OEPF relies on a dedicated network of Volunteer Student Liaison Committee members whose commitment, leadership, professional experience, and support make it possible to connect you with essential resources, information, and services.
Your Student Liaison Network
Direct Access: Bridging the gap between students and the broader professional community to ensure you never miss a vital update.
Curated Resources: Compiling study materials, clinical guides, and educational tools tailored to your academic journey.
Mentorship & Support: Connecting you with experienced professionals dedicated to helping you navigate your career path.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our Head committee members for generously sharing their time, talent, and passion to support the next generation.
Dr. Allan McCleary is an assistant professor and licensed therapeutic optometrist at RSO. His passion for teaching stems from a two-year mission for his church in Siberia, Russia, and three years spent teaching the Russian language to young adults. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in public health, Dr. McCleary attended and graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.
During optometry school, Dr. McCleary was involved in several clubs and organizations, including OVDRA, Low Vision, Beta Sigma Kappa, the Contact Lens Society and served as a school ambassador. While in optometry school, he discovered a love for pediatric optometry and vision therapy. After graduation, Dr. McCleary completed a residency in pediatric optometry, vision therapy, neuro-rehabilitation and sports vision at Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas in Plano, TX. Dr. McCleary has a passion for student education, patient education and public health. He loves to spend time with his wife and daughters, play golf and pretend to be a handyman.
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Dr. Brandee Nelson was born and raised in New Baltimore, Michigan. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor in 2016. She then attended Indiana University School of Optometry where she graduated with honors in 2020. Dr. Nelson completed a one-year post graduate residency in pediatric optometry with an emphasis in vision therapy and vision rehabilitation at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. After her residency, Dr. Nelson worked in private practice in North Carolina caring for both pediatric and adult patients with a special focus on double vision, traumatic brain injury and special needs populations.
Dr. Nelson is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Optometry where she specializes in pediatrics and binocular vision.
Dr. Elizabeth Pallante grew up in Michigan before obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame in 2013. She spent 2 years with the Colorado Reading Corps, working within the Americorps and Jefferson County Public School system to tutor children in reading skills. She graduated from the Arizona College of Optometry in 2020 as a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa and Gold Key Optometric Honor Societies. She was also an active member of the OVDRA, sports vision, student council, and contact lens clubs while she was a student. She completed a residency in pediatrics and vision therapy at the Southern College of Optometry from 2020-2021 and served as the residency liaison for the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) during this time.
Dr. Pallante joined the New England College of Optometry faculty in 2021. She works in the NECO Center for Eye Care three days a week, and specializes in seeing pediatric patients, patients with binocular vision issues, and patients with a history of head trauma. She frequently uses vision therapy as a treatment modality for these patients. She is also the instructor of record for the Binocular and Accommodative Anomalies course for second year optometry students at NECO. In her free time Dr. Pallante enjoys spending time with her husband Patrick and her cats, Fred and Charlie. She is an avid reader and crafter, and is constantly making something.