Biography

Dr. Lucy Kehinde Darnell serves as Assistant Dean for Student Services and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. A licensed Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist, she provides patient care at the UH Eye Care Center, where she serves as a clinical attending in the Family Practice Service, Dry Eye Center, and Cornea and Contact Lens Service.

Dr. Darnell earned her Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2005. She continued her academic training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, completing both her Ph.D. in Vision Science (2009) and Doctor of Optometry degree (2013). She then pursued a residency in Primary Care with an emphasis on cornea and contact lens at the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2014.

In her administrative role, Dr. Darnell’s work centers on oversight and management of student services program activities, including recruitment, admissions, academic support, student tracking, financial services, and engagement initiatives. Her expertise bridges clinical excellence, research, and a strong commitment to educating, mentoring, and supporting future optometrists.