It is with honor and enthusiasm that I begin my term as President of Optica. I am committed to advancing our shared mission and core values while building upon the incredible legacy of this organization.

The importance of Optica, and its impact on individual careers, is a common theme among my predecessors. My own connection to the society began early: My first professional presentation was at an OSA annual meeting (now FiO) when I was a master’s student researching wave propagation modeling through the atmosphere. I was extremely nervous, and my advisors, Ron Phillips and Larry Andrews, were legends in the field. To add to the pressure, it was only the day before my talk that I finally got the results I had hoped to include.

I was incredibly relieved my presentation went well. I’ll never forget when Anna Consertini, whose papers I had long admired, said, “Your talk was so fresh.” I was beaming and also thinking, “You have no idea just how fresh!” Later, one of my professors, Glenn Boreman, advised that conferences are as much about connecting with colleagues in the hallways as they are about the talks themselves. Then came the icing on the cake: meeting Valerian Tatarski, a big deal in the late 1980s when Russian scientists were only just beginning to travel abroad.

Fast forward a couple of decades: After years of involvement with meetings and publications, I received a call from Donna Strickland encouraging me to run for the OSA Board of Directors. It was an honor to be considered, and her guidance convinced me it was worth engaging at that level. Little did I realize I was talking to a future Nobel Laureate.

Those experiences capture what makes Optica unique. Where else can you meet global leaders, exchange ideas and find mentors who shape your career?

My journey through Optica illustrates my passion for mentoring early-career professionals and the imperative to invest in our global scientific community. Through conferences I met my Ph.D. advisor, Bill Rhodes, and others who influenced my path. The list of experts, mentors and friends I’ve met through Optica is too long to list, but to all of them I extend my heartfelt thanks. The educational opportunities, the global connections and the personal and professional experiences have been invaluable.

In the coming year, I will continue the work of my predecessors. This includes bridging geographical, societal and educational divides; investing in the next generation of scientists; and strengthening connections across industry, academia and government research worldwide.

I have had the privilege of working in or with academia, applied research organizations, government labora-tories, industry and standards organizations globally. I hope my perspective will reinforce the bridges Optica has formed with the stakeholders that form our evolving community. Ultimately, while individual efforts are invaluable, our collective action is essential for Optica’s ongoing progress. I invite the community to share their ideas on initiatives that will help us grow as an organization.

Thank you for your continued dedication to Optica.

—Gisele Bennett,
Optica President