Alexis Vogt, Professor & Chair of Optical Systems Technology, has worked at Monroe Community College (MCC) since 2015.

While Dr. Vogt received her Bachelor’s Degree and PhD from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, she wasn’t always sure what to study.

“I began my studies at the University of Rochester with an undecided major, drawn to a wide range of subjects,” said Dr. Vogt. “I was equally passionate about taking violin lessons at the Eastman School of Music and exploring fields like philosophy, religion, brain and cognitive science, and engineering.”

Then, a few friends urged her to take Introduction to Optics, praising both the professor and the fascinating content. Their recommendation proved spot on! “Both the course and the professor captivated me,” she added.

Inspired by the experience, Vogt later developed the Introduction to Optics course at MCC, which has since been adopted as a dual enrollment program in 20 local high schools. The goal is to inspire more students to discover the field of optics and to channel their interest into the MCC program.

In recognition of her work, Dr. Vogt has received numerous awards, including the 2023 SPIE María J. Yzuel Educator Award recognizing outstanding contributions to optics education by a SPIE instructor or an educator in the field. Other honors include the 2021 Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster Leadership Award, the 2020 IEEE Technical Skills Educator Award, the 2018 National Women’s Hall of Fame Keeper of the Flame Award, the 2017 New York Photonics Education Award, and the Rochester Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” award in 2016.