Julie Bentley, a 1986 graduate of Panama Central School, was recently named a fellow of the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers.
Each year the society elects 75 new fellows who have made significant scientific and technical contributions to the fields of optics, photonics, and imaging. Of the group's new fellows, only six are women.Three of the six women honorees teach at American universities.
She also recently presented a discussion on Optical Design Techniques for Complex Lens Systems: Zoom Lenses and Unobscured Three and Four Mirror Reflective Systems at a conference in October 2010 in China.
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Julie Bentley
Mrs. Bentley is an associate professor of optical design and engineering at the University of Rochester. She holds bachelor's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Rochester and joined the faculty there in 1998. Previously she worked for Hughes Aircraft and Corning. Dr. Bentley was honored for "developing new courses in lens design from the undergraduate to graduate level with real-world student projects."
She received her bachelor's degree in optics from the The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester in 1990. She also received her Ph.D. from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester. Her doctoral thesis focused on the integration of the design and manufacture of gradient-index optical systems. After graduating, she spent two years at Hughes Aircraft Co. in California designing optical systems for the defense industry and twelve years at Corning Tropel Corporation in Fairport, N.Y., designing and manufacturing precision optical assemblies such as micro lithographic inspection systems.
She started teaching at the University of Rochester in 1998. Her main teaching interests include geometrical optics, optical design, and tolerancing.
The 1986 Panama Central School valedictorian was also the valedictorian of her graduating class at the University of Rochester. Mrs. Bentley is married to Jon Getz. They have two daughters and lives in Penfield, N.Y. In addition to her professional obligations, she volunteers her time as a youth soccer coach during the summers. She is the daughter of William and Suzanne Bentley of Hoag Road, Panama.