Optics is the industry of the future, revolutionizing everything from the smart phones in our pockets to our national security. But there are more jobs for optical technicians than there are trained people to fill them. Dr. Alexis Vogt, Endowed Chair and Professor of Optics at Monroe Community College, speaks with Luminate‘s Technology Program Manager, Dr. Damon Diehl, about how she’s working to grow MCC’s Optical Systems Technology Program, the only program in the world awarding associate degrees in precision optics.
Over the last five years, students in the OST program have increased from five to 80, thanks in part to $6 million in funding that Dr. Vogt worked hard to secure and close partnerships with industry players that help inform curriculum and equipment upgrades. Learn how Dr. Vogt is taking steps to replicate the program around the country, what trends are shaping optical manufacturing jobs, and her hopes for the future of the industry.
