Julie Bentley: The 2022 SPIE Directors’ Award

Julie Bentley, a professor of optics at the University of Rochester, successful optical design consultant, and active advocate of science teaching and outreach, received her BS, MS, and PhD degrees in optics from the University of Rochester's Institute of Optics. She worked as an optical designer and technology manager in industry, first with Hughes Aircraft Co. for two years, designing optical systems for the defense industry, followed by a 12-year stint at Corning Tropel Corp, where she designed and manufactured precision optical assemblies such as micro lithographic inspection systems. After nearly 15 years in industry, she returned to the Institute of Optics' academic setting in 2009 where she was given the school's first non-tenure track faculty of practice position. Her primary teaching interests include geometrical optics, optical design, and optical tolerancing. In 2014, Bentley received the University of Rochester's prestigious Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Bentley, an SPIE Fellow, has actively engaged with the Society for more than 14 years. Her many contributions to SPIE include sitting on the SPIE Board of Directors, being an SPIE Community Champion, serving on various committees including the SPIE Awards and program planning committees for AR/VR/MR and SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, teaching SPIE courses on lens design and optical imaging systems design, and presenting her research at SPIE conferences and publishing in SPIE journals and books. In 2010, Bentley was featured in the SPIE Women in Optics Planner, offering up timeless words of wisdom: "One: Build up a group of friends and colleagues in college and keep in touch with them once you graduate. This becomes the foundation of a very important network of contacts that you will need and use later in your career. Two: The best way to learn something is to try to teach it to someone else. Three: You can do anything as long as you're willing to take that first step and ask someone how."

"Julie's technical excellence in optical design is world renowned, and her active engagement in her discipline has enabled countless members of the SPIE community to grow and develop as optics professionals," notes Director of Engineering at CVI Laser Optics Julia Craven. "However, her service to the Society goes far beyond her own technical domain; for SPIE, she has been a tireless committee member, served on the Board of Directors, and presented at SPIE Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion events. By volunteering her time in such a diverse number of service roles, Julie has truly been an impactful member of the Society who has rendered an outstanding benefit to the Society and its membership."

Meet the other 2022 SPIE Society Award winners.

Read more about Julie Bentley and the SPIE Directors' Award.