Optometry
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When Josephine Ibironke, OD ‘03, Resident '04, MPH, FAAO, was a student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), she worked for the note-taking service (NTS) on campus. She would take notes in class, edit them, and then copy and distribute them to students’ mailboxes.
As the new dean of her alma mater, she’s now come full circle, rising from the copy room to the C-suite. PCO, she said, is where futures are made.
“I am honored to return as dean because of the impact PCO has had on my life. I want our students to be able to see that,” said Dr. Ibironke, who officially started her duties as dean Sept.15, 2025, succeeding interim dean Jeffrey Weaver, OD ‘85, MBA, MS, FAAO, FACHE. “My return as the dean after 22 years is a reminder that possibilities are endless in our profession. I know our students will go on to change countless lives through their practice of optometry – and this is the enduring impact PCO will continue to make.”
Dr. Ibironke earned both a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, completed a residency in Binocular Vision and Pediatric Optometry from The Eye Institute (TEI), the College’s on-campus clinical facility, and later received a Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
She comes to PCO from the University of Pikeville’s Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), where she served as dean of professional engagement, overseeing residencies, continuing education, international partnerships, community outreach and career development programs across the entire student life cycle. Under her leadership, KYCO experienced significant enrollment growth and a substantial expansion of clinical opportunities for students. She was also instrumental in launching the KYCO Vision Initiative, which provides comprehensive screenings for every third grader in the region.
Dr. Ibironke said one reason she pursued the PCO position is that, as a scholar of leadership, she saw an opportunity to guide the College through its recent merger with Drexel University.
“We’re going through a culture shift, and this is a time we can make sure that we continue to inspire and empower our students, faculty, and staff, continue to engage our alumni, and continue to make our impact,” she said. “I knew this was where I was supposed to be.”
As dean, Dr. Ibironke will guide PCO’s full integration, foster interdisciplinary collaborations across Drexel, and accelerate PCO’s more than century-long mission of preparing optometrists to tackle society’s most pressing vision health challenges.
In addition to the merger, Dr. Ibironke applied for the position recognizing that PCO was navigating not only the integration with Drexel but also the transition following the departure of longtime dean Melissa Trego, OD ‘04, Resident ‘09, FAAO, a change that prompted strong reactions from faculty, students, and alumni.
“PCO is PCO strong. We’ve always been that way, so I know that we will be able to weather the storm,” said Dr. Ibironke. “Coming back to PCO, I wanted to be part of making it right and getting us through the storm.”
Some of Dr. Ibironke’s short-term goals include making sure PCO re-establishes its culture, that underlying code the College lives by. PCO’s culture has always been outstanding, she said, and she wants to ensure it remains strong.
Among her long-term goals is keeping PCO a leader in the optometric profession and continuing the tradition that PCO students are prepared when they graduate and enter the profession.
“There are many changes occurring in our profession – scope expansion, AI, and new emerging technologies, to name a few. I see us at the forefront of these, especially now as part of Drexel,” she said. “Being integrated into a larger university opens up new possibilities, new collaborations, and new ways to expand our impact. Nestled within this broader landscape, we have the opportunity to leverage Drexel’s strengths to advance PCO.”
Her message to students, faculty and staff is clear: transparency, engagement, excellence, and impact.
“As a PCO student, these were the commitments I benefitted from and these will continue to be our goals every single day,” said Dr. Ibironke.
