After more than 30 years at Ferris, Dr. Michael Cron, dean and professor at the Michigan College of Optometry (MCO) announced his retirement effective after Aug. 23, 2012.
Cron felt this was the right time and plans to spend quality time with his wife and family.
After earning his Doctorate in Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry, Cron established a private practice in Spring Lake before coming to MCO as a full-time educator. Holding the position of a clinical instructor to his current role as dean of MCO, Cron has spent 34 years at Ferris. In this time, he has had the opportunity to work with every class that has graduated from MCO. “I have had such pride and joy in seeing graduates of the MCO program be successful,” Cron said.
His teaching, clinical, and research interests are in the areas of pediatric vision, vision development, learning-related vision problems, and vision therapy. Cron has also taught and lectured in the areas of neuroanatomy, neuro-optometry, and traumatic brain injury.
Cron is an active participatant in numerous organizations including Jaycees, three different community theatre groups, local public school advocacy groups, Boy Scouts, and local children’s sports organizations as well as the American and Michigan Optometric Associations, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.
Cron has over 25 publications, including two book chapters, several review articles, and other articles on visual acuity in children, vision therapy, optometric textbook use and referral writing.
Since becoming MCO’s dean, Cron has been responsible for overseeing and helping coordinate the construction of and move into MCO’s new $26.7 million state-of-the-art facility.
Cron is thankful for the chance to work with the people he did and will greatly miss all of them. Cron’s passion for working with students and his leadership will surely be missed at Ferris.
“I have had a lot of good times and experiences at Ferris,” Cron said. “There will most certainly be a lot of things I will miss.”