(L to R) The 2016-17 AOSA executive officers are president Erick Henderson, Southern College of Optometry; vice president Lauren Fereday, MCPHS University School of Optometry; treasurer Evan Tirado, New England College of Optometry and secretary Christin DeMoss, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), which represents 6,700 students of optometry, has elected Erick Henderson of Southern College of Optometry (Memphis, Tenn.) as its president. Henderson, from Danville, Ill., is the 49th student to serve as president of the AOSA.

Henderson graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Illinois Wesleyan University prior to starting at Southern College of Optometry. At SCO, he is the recipient of multiple scholarships and is active with OptometryStudents.com, the Student Society of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

In addition to Henderson, the 2016-17 AOSA executive committee includes:
Vice President Lauren Fereday, MCPHS University School of Optometry. Originally from Slidell, La., Fereday holds an Honors Bachelor’s degree in biology from Loyola University and a Master’s degree in health care management from the University of New Orleans. She has been a teaching assistant at MCPHS University.

Treasurer Evan Tirado, New England College of Optometry. Originally from New York, Tirado holds an Associate’s degree in ophthalmic science from Raritan Valley Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and biochemistry from Rutgers University. He has worked as an apprentice optician and lab manager as well as assistant bank branch manager.

Secretary Christin DeMoss, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Originally from Mohnton, Pa., DeMoss holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in psychology from Penn State. She has served as a teaching assistant at PCO and Penn State and as secretary of the Pennsylvania Optometric Student Association.

The four were elected at the conclusion of the annual Board of Trustees meeting here, where 46 trustees, representing each of the 23 schools and colleges of optometry, convened Jan. 6 to 9, 2016. The AOSA membership encompasses 95 percent of all optometry students.

The terms of office begin in March, when the current executive council, president Hunter Chapman (SCO), vice president Alex Conley (Inter American University of Puerto Rico College of Optometry), treasurer Jordyn Barnwell (Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry) and secretary Nicole Ethridge (University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry) end their terms.