Joanne Y. Law ’98 (PhD) establishes a distinguished professorship in optics

Gift supports faculty excellence and innovation and completes the distinguished professorship part of the Wyant Challenge.

Joanne Y. Law at the University’s 1998 Commencement ceremony

Joanne Y. Law ’98 (PhD), an inventor and optical engineer, has established a new endowed fund—the Joanne Y. Law Distinguished Professorship in Optics—at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics. Her generous $800,000 gift will be amplified by an additional $1.2 million from the Wyant Challenge, a historic initiative launched in 2022 by the late optics pioneer James C. Wyant ’69 (PhD), trustee emeritus, and his wife, Tammy.

“I believe in science, research, and education, and I am deeply committed to supporting them all—especially now when the need is so great,” says Law. “Earning my PhD at the Institute of Optics shaped my career and life, and I am profoundly grateful for the education and opportunities I received because of that. This is my way to pay it forward.”

“We are thrilled that Joanne has established this gift,” says Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. “She joins a distinguished group of benefactors and dedicated leaders committed to making a lasting investment in the institute—advancing education, pushing the boundaries of research, and creating a meaningful impact on society. We are grateful to Joanne for her generosity.”

Heinzelman emphasizes that the Wyant Challenge and the matching gifts made through it will empower top-tier faculty to address the leading challenges in the field and the increasing need for skilled optics graduates. These professionals will contribute to advancements in precision manufacturing, national security and aerospace, biomedical imaging and diagnostics, renewable energy, and other industries.

Established in 2022 through a $12 million gift from the late optics pioneer James C. Wyant ’69 (PhD), trustee emeritus, and his wife, Tammy, the Wyant Challenge is transforming the Institute of Optics. As the largest gift in its history, funds from the challenge and matching gifts, including Law’s contribution, will increase the number of full-time faculty at the institute from 20 to 30 over the next decade. The challenge will ultimately support 10 endowed professorships—five for distinguished faculty and five for early-career scholars—along with a visiting professorship and a staff position. This growth will support the institute as it plans for its 100th anniversary in 2029.

Law’s generosity marks the fifth and final distinguished professorship to be funded through the Wyant Challenge. Additionally, two early career professorships have already been established through it. To date, the challenge has generated an additional $5.2 million in new donor funds. When completed, matching gifts will account for $8 million, bringing the total impact of the challenge to $20 million.

“Through this challenge, I can help future scientists and engineers have the same opportunities I had to learn, grow, and contribute to this important field,” says Law. “I am excited that this professorship will attract top talent and bring a positive spirit to scientific research.”

Noting that the Wyant Challenge presented a compelling opportunity to make a difference in alignment with her values, Law adds, “Because the challenge offered matching funds, I was able to establish this professorship at this point in my life. It helped me meet the financial requirements to create an endowed professorship.”

“It is especially meaningful to me to see a former student invest in the institute like this,” says Tom Brown, the director of the Institute of Optics and a Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor. “Joanne’s generosity, along with the collective support of the Wyant Challenge, allows us to invest in faculty excellence in a way that will positively impact many generations of graduate and undergraduate students.”

About Joanne Y. Law

Law attended the University of Rochester in 1994 as a Sproull Fellow, conducting research on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers under the guidance of Professor Govind P. Agrawal. After receiving a PhD in optics from the Institute of Optics, she moved to California, where she spent 16 years in industrial research and product engineering at Therma-Wave, Agilent Technologies, and Nanometrics. Her work focused on optical design and system analysis for semiconductor metrology.

In addition to the newly established distinguished professorship, Law has supported the University’s Student Emergency Fund, which began during COVID-19. In 2021, she created the Law Optics Scholarship to further her commitment to helping others reach their full potential. She plans to continue with charitable giving to science advancement and education as a long-term goal.

Beyond science, Law spends time crafting art with a 5W diode laser at home and sharing her creations with the community. She enjoys giving back through her artwork.