AROA Board of Directors
2026-2027 AROA Board of Directors
President Katie Brown, O.D.
Dr. Katie Brown was elected as President on May 8, 2026. She began her service on the Arkansas Optometric Association board of directors in 2018. Dr. Brown graduated from Southern College of Optometry in 2012 and found her home in academics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, as Assistant Professor of the College of Medicine in the Department of Ophthalmology. In 2022, Dr. Brown received her Masters of Business Administration with Healthcare Focus from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Dr. Brown was named the 2018 ArOA Young Optometrist of the Year and has been awarded the 5 Star Medical Student Teaching Award from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2016. Dr. Brown enjoys community service and is the Little Rock Shepherd’s Hope Free Eye Clinic Coordinator as well as a regular clinic volunteer. She is a founding board member of ROOTS (Rural Ophthalmology Optometry Treatment and Screening), a non-profit organization, formed by a first year UAMS medical student under her mentorship. ROOTS has been heavily involved in community events such as the MLK Day Pediatric Free Clinic for the past 5 years. Dr. Brown has served as Membership Committee Chair, and serves on the convention committee and as coordinator for LEAD, the Arkansas Optometric Association leadership program.
President-Elect Allison Hall, O.D.
The 2026-2027 President-Elect is Dr. Allison Hall. Dr. Hall was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association board of directors in 2020. She is a 1997 graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri--St. Louis College of Optometry in 2003 with Beta Sigma Kappa honors. An active member of the American Optometric Association and the Arkansas Optometric Association, she serves as chair of the Awards Committee, past member of the ArOA Membership Committee and is a graduate of the inaugural LEAD class. Dr. Hall serves on board of directors of Vision Arkansas, the charitable foundation of the Arkansas Optometric Association. She serves on the Arkansas State Board of Dispensing Opticians, is an associate member of College of Optometrist in Vision Development, an InfantSEE provider, and a life-member of the Junior Auxiliary of Clarksville. Dr. Hall started Hall Eye Care Center, L.L.C. (Clarksville) in April of 2004. She and her husband, Mel, and their daughter, Hannah, are members of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville..
Vice President Justin Beavers, O.D.
Dr. Justin Beavers was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association board of directors in 2020., and currently serves as Vice-President. Dr. Beavers lives in Fayetteville with his wife Kristen and their two children Ryan Anna and Hendrix. He is originally from Blytheville, Arkansas. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas in 2003. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, he attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee where he earned his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2007. Dr. Beavers is the owner of Beavers Eye Care in Rogers. He currently serves on the convention Committee and chairs the membership committee.
Secretary/Treasurer Sarah Lunsford, O.D.
Dr. Sarah Lunsford was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association board of directors on May 7, 2021. Dr. Sarah Denman Lunsford is a fourth-generation optometrist currently practicing in Bryant, Arkansas. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas in 2004 and then went on to graduate from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee with her Doctorate of Optometry in 2008. She is a 2022 graduate of the ArOA LEAD program. Dr. Lunsford is past president and active member of the Little Rock South Lions Club. She currently serves as the convention chair and is active in the legislative structure for the Arkansas Optometric Association. Dr. Lunsford also serves on the medical response team for East Union Missionary Baptist Church and was the first optometric physician to staff a school-based health clinic in Arkansas.
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Immediate Past President Julie M. Dolven, O.D.
Dr. Julie Dolven serves as Immediate Past President.
She began her service on the Arkansas Optometric Association board of directors in 2018. Dr. Dolven is originally from Gosnell, a small town in Northeastern Arkansas. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and graduated Cum Laude from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Dr. Dolven is the owner and Optometric Physician at James Eyecare & Optics Gallery in West Little Rock. Dr. Dolven is a graduate of the inaugural ArOA leadership program, LEAD. Dr. Dolven was selected as the Young Optometrist of the Year for the Arkansas Optometric Association in 2020. Outside of the office, Dr. Dolven enjoys keeping active with her two daughters, hot yoga, and is a self-proclaimed "foodie". She is an active member of Christ Community Church, and spends her time volunteering as a wish granter for Make-a-Wish, and providing eye examinations for the women of the Dorcas house and the children of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation through the Eyes of the Champion program.
Barrett Brown, O.D., Director
Dr. Barrett Brown was elected to the ArOA board of directors on April 23, 2022. A native of Monticello, Arkansas, Dr. Barrett Brown received his Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Dr. Brown went on to graduate Cum Laude from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He returned to his hometown and is the owner and optometric physician of SEARK Eyecare in Monticello. Dr. Brown completed the inaugural class LEAD leadership program in 2019 and received the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence from Southern College of Optometry in 2020. Dr. Brown and his wife Meri Whitney have two children, Oliver and Ruby. Dr. Brown is a member of Monticello First Baptist Church and is actively involved in the community. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, gardening, and going to the lake.
Aaron Tollett, O.D., Director
Dr. Aaron Tollett was elected to the ArOA board of directors in 2023. Prior to beginning his career in optometry, Dr. Tollett attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where he graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Dr. Tollett attended Southern College of Optometry where he graduated in 2020. While in optometry school, Dr. Tollett was the president of the Arkansas Optometric Student Association organizing and overseeing student-legislature relationships during Arkansas’ Advanced Procedures legislative battle. In 2019, Dr. Tollett received the American Optometric Student Association Student of the Year Award for his leadership and service to the profession of optometry. He was recognized as a member of the Gold Key Honor society for his leadership skills during optometry school. Dr. Tollett’s real passion in school was organizing the Fellowship of Christian Optometrist mission trips to various countries. Upon graduation, Dr. Tollett returned to his hometown, purchased a private practice, and now practices to the highest level permitted in Arkansas. Dr. Tollett believes that access to quality eyecare should not be dictated by the area that a person calls home. Dr. Tollett is a graduate of Arkansas LEAD program and serves on the State Association’s AOP-PAC committee. Dr. Tollett serves on the AOA Leadership and Development Committee. Dr. Tollett and his wife, Lisa Marie, were blessed with a baby boy, Rhett, in February of 2021.
Zach Burroughs, O.D., Director
Dr. Zach Burroughs was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association board of directors in 2023. Dr. Burroughs graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelors of Biological Sciences in 2015. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern College of Optometry in 2019. He is originally from Paragould, Arkansas. He practices in Benton and Little Rock at Simmons Eye Care. Dr. Burroughs currently serves as a student liaison for the association assisting students in their transition into practicing optometrists. He attends Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock. Dr. Burroughs enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing golf, and pursuing his passion for duck hunting.
Jade Coats, O.D., Director
Dr. Jade Coats was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association Board of Directors in 2024. Dr. Coats was born and raised from Hot Springs, Arkansas and is an honors graduate of the University of Arkansas. Since graduating in 2016 from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, Dr. Coats practices at McDonald Eye Associates in Rogers, Arkansas in which she dedicates the majority of her clinical practice to ocular disease, comprehensive eye care, and contact lenses. In addition to being named a 2023 and 2024 Contact Lens Institute Visionary, Dr. Coats also serves on the board of directors for Women in Optometry, Intrepid Eye Society, and YoungODsConnect. She is an active member of the Arkansas Optometric Association and a graduate of the AOA Leadership Institute 1.0 and 2.0 programs. Receiving several local, state, and national awards for her dedication to philanthropy and her profession, Dr. Coats has also recently been honored as one of NWA Celebrate Arkansas Magazine's 'Ones to Watch' in 2023. Dr. Coats serves on the advisory board and/or as a speaker for over 12 pharmaceutical companies and is an editorial board member for numerous publications. She is a well published author with articles in Advanced Ocular Care, Primary Care Ocular News, Healio, Review of Optometry, Optometry Times, Optometric Management, and Modern Optometry.
Shane Laster, O.D., Director
Dr. Shane Laster was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association Board of Directors in 2025.
Dr. Laster graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern State University College of Optometry in 1994. While attending NSU he received the outstanding senior clinician award and was a two time Varilux Optometry Super Bowl Champion. He was also the first optometry student to be inducted into the NSU Student Hall of Fame. He has served on the legislative committee for the Arkansas Optometry Association for several years helping pass the advanced procedures scope bill and Act 142 (vision insurance bill). He has practiced in the Fort Smith area for 31 years and is currently the senior partner in Laster Eye Center, a multi-location full scope group practice with his son Seth Laster, OD and Cole Stanton, OD. He enjoys hosting local CE meetings in Fort Smith for optometrists in Arkansas to cover ocular disease and advanced procedures. He and his loving wife Jamie currently have a family of 4 sons and 5 grandchildren.
Wanda Vaughn, O.D., Director
Dr. Wanda Vaughn was elected to the Arkansas Optometric Association Board of Directors May 8, 2026.
She is the founder and clinical director of Arkansas Vision Development and Wellness Center in Fort Smith, where she specializes in developmental optometry and neuro-visual rehabilitation. She has been actively involved in the Arkansas Optometric Association through leadership and committee service, including as former chair of the InfantSEE Committee, service on the ArOA Third Party Committee, and as a member of the Vision Arkansas Board of Directors. She is also a graduate of the ArOA LEAD Program (2025) and has mentored optometry students and young doctors throughout her career.
Dr. Vaughn earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of Central Arkansas in 1995, followed by a Master of Science in Biology in 1998. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Northeastern State University College of Optometry in 2004.
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Rusty Simmons, O.D. Advisor to the Board
Dr.Rusty Simmons currently serves as Advisor to the Board.
