Emerald Jones is this year’s UMSL recipient of the prestigious Remington R. Williams Award. Now in her fourth year in the College of Optometry, she has been heavily involved on campus, including as the former president of both the Missouri Optometric Student Association and the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

Emerald Jones certainly keeps herself busy. Now in her fourth year in the College of Optometry at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Jones previously served as president of both the Missouri Optometric Student Association, where she helps fellow students advocate for the future of the profession. She’s also involved with “pretty much every organization that the college offers,” including UMSL’s Private Practice Club, Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, the National Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry.

She’s worked as a teaching assistant in the College of Optometry, helping younger students with anatomy, physiology and disease topics, as well as in the clinical optometry lab. She even represented the college when testifying before the Missouri House and Senate on a bill to expand the scope of practice for optometrists in the state. She’s passionate about volunteering and giving back, having recently returned from an optometry clinic in Detroit where her group saw 418 patients.

So when Jones found out she had been named a recipient of the 2025 Remington R. Williams Award, she was grateful for being recognized for all the time she had put in, both at the College of Optometry and across the state. She finds the work that has helped her grow in her professional career fulfilling, and she’s been proud to help other students get involved outside of the classroom, too.

“It was a surreal feeling because it’s such a big award, but it was really nice to be recognized for my leadership,” she said.

Named for the late University of Missouri Board of Curators Student Representative Remington Williams, the honor was given to seven students throughout the University of Missouri System by the UM Board of Curators. The award recognizes “exceptional student leaders who have made an impact on their respective institution, inspired growth and development of fellow students in both academics and extracurricular activities and exhibited outstanding character and collaborative spirit at all times.”

College of Optometry Dean Dr. Keshia Elder – one of three faculty members to nominate Jones for the award – said that Jones brings a spirit of dedication, service and caring to the college and UMSL campus. “In the time I have observed her in our college I find her to be an outstanding student leader with a solid dedication to excellence,” Elder wrote. “I have been pleased to watch as she grows into a gifted clinician with a heart for sharing and uplifting those around her.”

Jones, who recently started her final year of optometry school, just completed her first externship rotation at UMSL’s Patient Care Center and officially moved out of St. Louis. Next, she’s headed to Ada, Oklahoma, for a community health externship at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, followed by three rotations in the Kansas City area: Ridgeview Eyecare, a private practice in Olathe, Kansas; Moyes Eye Center; and the Kansas City VA Medical Hospital.

While at the College of Optometry – which is known for its contact lens program – Jones discovered a passion for specialty contact lenses, and hopes to dip her toes in more at her next few externships. After she graduates next year, she plans to practice in her hometown of Warrensburg, Missouri, at Insight Eyecare.

“It’s exciting,” Jones said. “It’s nice to just be essentially a practicing doctor all day, every day, and learning a lot at the same time. I’ve been very thankful for the professors and faculty we’ve had at the college. We are very blessed with some very great people at school, and I’ve learned a lot from them. I’m excited to go other places, but I’ll miss them as well.”