New England College of Optometry (NECO) has announced plans to endow a scholarship to honor Maureen Hanley, OD, Class of 1981. This cherished faculty member dedicated more than four decades to shaping the future of optometry before her passing on March 8, 2025, at the age of 69.

The Dr. Maureen Hanley Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor her legacy, and as a way for those in the NECO Community to join together in celebration of all she gave to NECO and her patients.

The Fund will support students who share her unique passion and commitment, keeping her legacy alive among future generations of optometrists and carrying forward the compassion, dedication, and love Dr. Hanley shared with everyone she met.

Originally from Lincoln, Rhode Island, Dr. Hanley was a proud NECO alumna who joined the faculty in 1984. Throughout her career, she played a pivotal role in training countless optometrists. Her exceptional teaching earned her the Dupuis Pellerin Award for Faculty Excellence and the Foster Namias Award for Superior Classroom Instruction.

“Dr. Hanley’s impact on optometric education cannot be overstated,” said Howard Purcell, OD ’84, FAAO, Dipl., President and CEO of NECO. “This planned endowed scholarship will serve as a living testament to her expertise, dedication, and extraordinary compassion for her students. It’s a fitting tribute to her legacy of excellence.”

Beyond her academic contributions, Dr. Hanley demonstrated an unwavering commitment to patient care. She served veterans at the VA in West Roxbury for 14 years and, more recently, provided eye care at Upham’s Corner Community Health Center, ensuring underserved communities received high-quality vision care.

Those wishing to contribute to the Dr. Maureen Hanley Scholarship Fund may do so through this form on the NECO website or by contacting Lindsay Allen, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at allenl@neco.edu or (617) 587.5612.