Few moments capture the magic of fall in Boston like a new school year. We kicked off the academic year by welcoming the Class of 2030. These 134 future optometrists boast an impressive average GPA of 3.56 and represent 24 states and four countries. Seeing their passion as they dive straight from orientation into their studies is incredible (and yes, the coffee is flowing constantly).

Our Welcome Back BBQ brought everyone together for lawn games, great conversation, and unbeatable weather. This is one of those special traditions that shows off the tight-knit spirit that makes NECO so special.

The momentum at the College right now is incredible. Over the past year, we opened our brand-new Clinical Training Center on Beacon Street, led national conversations on AI in healthcare at the Industry Collaborative, and started expanding our Commonwealth Avenue clinic to expand student training and patient access. Philanthropy is what keeps our momentum going.

Like many other institutions of higher learning, the need for greater philanthropy from alumni, families, and friends is paramount. Your gift to the NECO Fund is where you can have the greatest impact and deliver immediate, flexible support where our students need it most. I hope you’ll join us in championing the Class of 2030 by giving back to what you loved most about NECO.

Thank you for keeping this community strong. Please come visit campus soon!

What a memorable evening at the NECO Alumni Reception at Academy! Nearly 200 alumni, faculty, and students gathered to reflect on our shared legacy and look toward what’s ahead. Between shared stories and celebrated milestones, the room was buzzing from start to finish. Thank you for showing up and making our community second to none.  

Click on the images below to enlarge them.

We are deeply grateful for our alumni community, whose generosity empowers the next generation of optometric leaders. Thanks to donor support, ten NECO residents presented their research at the American Academy of Optometry poster session with help from $500 travel stipends.

However, as travel and registration costs rise, many residents still face significant out-of-pocket expenses to access these career-defining mentorship and learning opportunities.

Your gift to the NECO Residency Travel Fund directly offsets these costs for residents. (To view some of the posters presented at Academy 2026, use this link to visit our new Research Poster Gallery, which is displayed on two touch-enabled monitors at Beacon Street.)

In just a few weeks we'll be welcoming alums back to Beacon Street for NECO's annual Alumni Reunion on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Whether it’s been five years or 50 since you last walked our halls, this day is designed to celebrate our shared history and look toward NECO’s exciting future.

Honoring Our Milestone Classes
This year, we are celebrating classes ending in 1 or 6  (plus 2025 for their first reunion). 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2025.

The Day’s Agenda
Reconnect with faculty, meet the next generation of ODs, and earn credit while you're at it:

We’re pleased to announce that NECO will give away a bag of our very own “Red Eye Roast” ground coffee to every attendee at Reunion 2026. It’s blended just for us, and it’s a great way to start your morning!

We’ll also be selling NECO and special NEWENCO t-shirts during the event. Even more reasons to attend reunion this year!

Monica Miller, OD '20, began her journey after her 2020 graduation from NECO. It was a moment when the world, healthcare, and the profession itself were navigating unprecedented uncertainty.

Graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic meant entering the profession at anything but an ordinary time. But the adaptability, resilience, and clinical foundation Monica developed at NECO helped shape what came next.

NECO is excited to announce the launch of the Teaching & Learning Collaborative (TLC), a new initiative dedicated to advancing excellence and innovation in optometric education. The TLC serves as a resource and partner for NECO faculty, providing expertise, tools, and support to enhance teaching and student learning. From instructional design and educational technology to assessment, clinical reasoning, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, the TLC helps faculty explore evidence-based approaches to preparing the next generation of optometrists.

Teaching & Learning Collaborative Team

The initiative also reflects NECO's commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in how students learn, develop clinical skills, and prepare for professional practice. For our alumni, the TLC represents an investment in the future of the profession, ensuring that NECO graduates continue to receive an education that evolves alongside the changing demands of optometric practice. Learn more at the TLC website.

NECO alumni who are preparing to sell their optometry practice are invited to submit information for promotion on the alumni website. By sharing these opportunities with our broad network of alumni and graduating students, NECO hopes to connect practice owners with prospective buyers and help create successful matches. This service is one of the ways NECO supports private practice and helps sustain alumni-owned practices for the next generation of optometrists.

Alumni in the News

Congratulations to Stephen Arsenault, OD '19, on his new position at Eyesight Ophthalmic Services, the office where he once trained as a student doctor and is now a full-time associate. Read more.

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