Gift to University of Arizona from The Wyant Foundation Trust kicks off the Wyant College of Optical Sciences’ new initiative for optics and photonics leadership and student success
The gift provides two years of seed funding for LENS: Linking Engagement, Networks and Student Success.
James C. Wyant attends the renaming of the College to the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences in 2019, with (L to R) Tammy Wyant, spouse; and Clair Wyant, son.
Brian P. Anderson, dean and professor of the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, announced a generous gift of more than $800,000 in expendable funds from the Wyant Foundation Trust providing two years of seed-funding for LENS: Linking Engagement, Networks and Student Success. This new initiative seeks to further elevate the College’s visibility and position as a leader in optics and photonics by facilitating new community and industry connections while highlighting student success and community-driven programs in optics education and workforce development.
“LENS will guide the future of optical sciences both as a viable education opportunity for students seeking impactful careers, and for developing industry connections that support and build on that success for future students, professionals and our local and state communities,” said Anderson. “We are honored to embrace the legacy of the Wyants and pursue the goals we share.”
The Wyant Foundation Trust —established by the College’s namesake, the late James ‘Jim’ C. Wyant, and today entrusted to his son, Clair Wyant and widow Tammy Wyant—will support the launch of LENS.
“We are excited to support LENS because it reflects the spirit of innovation, collaboration and education that meant so much to Jim,” said Clair and Tammy Wyant. “By strengthening connections between the College, industry and the community, this initiative will help share the impact of optical sciences while creating new opportunities for students.”
Strategic Communications as a Pathway to Recognition and Connection
While the College has long enjoyed an excellent reputation among its alumni and the optics industry, LENS will illuminate the College's unique purpose and value in the broader community. From enormous telescope mirrors, to imaging tumors, to the tiniest of semiconductor lasers and the mind-bending experimental physics of quantum optics, optics is BIG, even in its smallest applications. Rather than asking “What is optics?” the LENS proposal challenges the community to consider, “What isn’t optics?”
To spearhead this initiative, the College has selected Amee Hennig as the new Director of Strategic Engagement Initiatives. With a background in physics, science communication and federally funded education programs, Hennig will pursue strategic communication and visibility opportunities along with partnership-building efforts within Arizona’s optics community and education leaders (including U of A, Pima Community College, Optics Valley and the Arizona Technology Council, NAU, ASU and more). This approach will naturally feed into the growth and visibility of the College and optics community—impacting industry partnerships, education connections and opportunities for the future.
Student Success through Capstones and Partnerships
2026 Senior Design Day Champions of the “Most Robust Systems Engineering” Award and a $2,500 award (L to R) Ian Carr, Andrew Black, Zane Al-Qattan, Eli Jordan, Sutton Thomas, Rayce Bacchus, Denly Lindeman and Ben Cromey. Cromey and Carr, alumni of the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, are employed today as optical engineers at BAE Systems, Wyant College of Optical Sciences Industrial Affiliate Partner, building the Roman Space Telescope. Additionally, Eli Jordan was hired as a new engineer to BAE Systems after completing the senior design project with the team and graduating with his bachelors in engineering. This engagement through the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program and with BAE Systems is a direct representation of the cohesive and cyclical partnerships that LENS will work to establish across the student to alumni to industry to education communities.
Ben Cromey
Additionally, the funding directly supports undergraduate student success through the development of new industry partnerships that facilitate the creation of more optics-focused senior capstone projects.
“Our undergraduate student body has nearly doubled in just the last few years. We need to grow our offerings of optics-related senior design day projects to match,” said R. John Koshel, associate dean of academic affairs at the College. “Last year, only four optics-related projects were available—with nearly 60 optics students approaching their graduation dates we want to make sure everyone has an applicable project to showcase their talents. With the LENS seed-funding we aim to triple that number, providing many more inter-disciplinary optics-led capstone projects.”
Essential to accomplishing these goals is a new Student Success and Capstone Partnerships Manager, soon to be posted to the U of A’s Talent website. This position will work in tandem with the Director of Strategic Engagement Initiatives to build and develop industry relationships that recruit new companies into posing challenging questions to the bright seniors preparing to graduate after completing their senior capstone design project.
Interested candidates with a graduate degree in optics, engineering, physics and related topics as well as an interest in industry and mentoring are encouraged to apply.
The LENS Model Pursues the Legacy of James C. Wyant
Jim Wyant meets with optics student, Maria Ruiz, in the Holography Lab.
The College that Jim Wyant helped build and lead to prominence is among the very few places in the world where the full breadth of optical sciences and engineering is taught, practiced, and advanced.
As Wyant once said, “What I have enjoyed most is working with the students.…It is so much fun giving the students the opportunity for a career in optics and to see them enjoy optics as much as I have. Following their careers after they leave [the College of] Optical Sciences, and knowing that in some way I have helped them, gives me great pleasure and satisfaction.”
By catalyzing further advancement through the LENS initiative, the Wyant Foundation Trust is investing in the Wyant College of Optical Sciences’ most important assets—bright and driven students with a passion for discovery and partnerships that establish innovation and collaboration as keystones for the College’s future success.
About the Wyant College of Optical Sciences
The University of Arizona’s James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences (OSC) has been lighting the future since 1964 by providing an internationally pre-eminent program in all aspects of the study of light. OSC offers a diverse student body, challenging courses, pioneering research programs with award-winning faculty, and close relationships with the optics industry. For more information, please visit optics.arizona.edu.
Contacts
Amee Hennig, Director of Strategic Engagement Initiatives
amee@arizona.edu
520-626-4887
Ember Goldstein, Director of Development
embergoldstein@arizona.edu
520-626-8754
