OGS Executive Director Lois Schoenbrun announces retirement

Lois Schoenbrun / Image credit: Optometry Giving Sight

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) recently announced Lois Schoenbrun, FAAO, the executive director of OGS, will retire from the organization in December 2024. The announcement comes after Schoenbrun came out of retirement in 2022 to serve as interim executive director for OGS, according to a news release.¹

In a statement regarding her retirement, Schoenbrun said, “Although the initial interim period was intended to be short. I believed so passionately in the mission and quickly saw what a tremendous difference OGS makes in lives of people all over the world. So, the ‘interim’ appointment turned into nearly 2 and a half years. And I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

Schoenbrun’s colleagues also shared their remarks on working with her, including OGS US Board Chair Juan Carlos Aragón, OD. “When Lois joined OGS, we knew that we were getting a seasoned, successful leader from the optometry community. We are very appreciative of all that she and her team have accomplished, particularly in such a short period of time,” he said in the release.

Aragón also acknowledged Schonebrun’s achievements with OGS, including earning a 4-star designation from the non-profit assessment firm Charity Navigator. The designation is the highest rating possible for a non-profit and was a first for the organization.¹

Susan Cooper, OD, chair of OGS’s Canada board, said in the release, “Under Lois’s leadership, we’ve strengthened the financial future of OGS, revised our vision and mission statement language to better align with the World Health Organization, and created additional staff positions to bring much-needed expertise in-house.”

A nationwide search to replace Schoenbrun is now taking place. Information regarding the open position can be found here.¹

Reference:

1. Lois Schoenbrun to retire as OGS executive director, nationwide search underway for successor. News release. Optometry Giving Sight. July 19, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://givingsight.org/news/lois-schoenbrun-to-retire-as-ogs-executive-director/