The University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences will be renamed in honor of Professor Emeritus James C. Wyant, the college’s founding dean, UA President Robert C. Robbins announced recently.

Renaming the college as the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences recognizes Wyant’s significant impact – in academia and as a business leader in the field – and his exceptionally generous philanthropic contributions to the UA and the college, Robbins said.

“Dr. Wyant’s enormous contributions over a 40-year period as a professor, dean, business leader and philanthropist have been instrumental in advancing the college’s world-leading education and research program in optical sciences, ” Robbins said. “His extraordinary tenacity, vision and generosity have promoted the success of the university’s mission to provide our students with unprecedented opportunities to drive innovation and become future leaders in our society.”