(PRESS RELEASE) MEMPHIS, TN — As part of its 2026 commencement on May 5, Southern College of Optometry will bestow honorary degrees to Lynn T. Shaw Sr. and Jarrett Johnson, OD. Shaw, a managing director for Raymond James, will receive the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, and Dr. Johnson, a 1990 SCO alumna, will receive the honorary Doctor of Ocular Science.
Lynn T. Shaw Sr.
“Lynn Shaw and Dr. Johnson have majorly contributed to driving optometry as a desired profession for the next generation,” said Dr. Lewis Reich, president of Southern College of Optometry. “During their times as members of SCO’s Board of Trustees, they’ve contributed their professional knowledge and guidance to further the success of the college. We’re grateful to recognize them with these honorary degrees, as they are inspiring figures to this year’s graduates who are embarking on the next chapter of their careers.”
Shaw, an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor, lives and practices in Memphis and has more than 40 years of experience as a financial services professional. He specializes in serving the financial needs of individuals, corporate executives, business owners, medical industry practitioners, philanthropic families and estates, and nonprofit fiduciaries. Shaw is actively involved in the Memphis community, including serving in his eighth year on SCO’s Board of Trustees. His charitable support includes United Way, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the American Cancer Society, and he is a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church, for which he chairs its Endowment Committee.
Jarrett Johnson, OD
Dr. Johnson has practiced optometry since 1994 and is the owner of a private group, Primary Eye Care, in her hometown of New Orleans. She was a two-term chair of SCO’s Board of Trustees, the first Black woman SCO graduate to serve in that role. During that time, she co-chaired the college’s “Envision Our Progress” campaign, which exceeded its fundraising goal. Dr. Johnson is a past president of the New Orleans Optometric Society and has held numerous leadership and public service roles, including chief of optometry for the New Orleans Health Corporation, minority outreach coordinator with the New Orleans AIDS Task Force, and coordinator of mobile clinics for Vision Service Plan and the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Project. She also served in leadership roles and is actively involved with Lighthouse Louisiana and the Pontchartrain Chapter of The Links, Inc.
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SCO’s 2026 commencement ceremony is Tuesday, May 5, at 1 p.m. at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis. Its Class of 2026 has a total of 124 students hailing from 34 states.
