RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Dr. Yutaka Maki, a nationally recognized optometric educator and clinician, has been named associate dean for Academic Affairs at the UTRGV School of Optometry.
Maki joins UTRGV with more than a decade of academic and clinical leadership, most recently serving as associate professor and chief of the Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy Service at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio.
In his new role, Maki will oversee academic programs and policies, curriculum development and student academic progress as UTRGV prepares to launch its School of Optometry in fall 2027, pending accreditation. The program recently reached a key milestone with Stage One designation from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), marking important progress on the path to full accreditation.
“Dr. Maki brings a wealth of experience in optometric education, curriculum development and interprofessional collaboration,” said Dr. William Miller, founding dean of the UTRGV School of Optometry. “He has proven himself to be an excellent educator and was most recently honored by the Texas Optometry Association as the Educator of the Year. His leadership will be key to ensuring a rigorous and supportive academic environment for our students from day one.”
A licensed optometrist and certified glaucoma specialist, Maki holds a Doctor of Optometry from the SUNY State College of Optometry in New York, a master’s in education from Pace University in New York and a bachelor’s in physics and biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 2025, he was named Educator of the Year by the Texas Optometric Association.
“I’m honored to join UTRGV and help launch a program focused on clinical excellence, innovation and service,” Maki said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to build something meaningful for the profession and the Rio Grande Valley.”
