Optometry college honors La Jollan

Pacific University’s College of Optometry has named alumnus, longtime benefactor and Trustee Emeritus James H. (Jim) Berglund as the inaugural recipient of the Kamelia Massih Prize for a Distinguished Optometrist.

The annual prize is the principal honor recognizing a Pacific alumnus or alumna who has made a significant impact on the optometry profession. The Kamelia Massih Prize for a Distinguished Optometrist is supported through an endowment established by the estate of late alumna Kamelia Massih.

A La Jolla resident and 1960 graduate of the College of Optometry, Berglund served the Army as a member of its Counterintelligence Corps prior to pursuing a career in vision care. He spent 21 years in the optical field, both in private practice and in the eye care products industry. His career includes service as president of Central Laboratories, general manager of the American Optical Contact Lens Division and president of Continuous Curve Contact Lens, Inc.

In 1985, Berglund co-founded Enterprise Partners Venture Capital. He has directed numerous additional companies, been a general partner of several more venture capital endeavors and served on several boards and committees in the greater San Diego area where he resides.

Berglund and his wife Mary, a class of 1958 graduate, donated $3 million in 2000 to establish the Berglund Center for Internet Studies at Pacific University. The funds were transferred to construct Berglund Hall, a LEED-certified building that houses the Berglund Center for Internet Studies as well as the College of Education, its Early Learning Community daycare and the College of Arts & Sciences’ Business Department.