A graduate of the New England College of Optometry’s (NECO) Class of 1984, Howard Purcell, O.D., FAAO, is back to his roots.

Last year, Dr. Purcell was named the 13th president and CEO of the college, guiding the NECO community with his wealth of industry knowledge, as his past experience includes 11 years in private practice and senior roles with Johnson & Johnson and Essilor. Here, he shares his dawn to dusk on the bustling Boston campus.

6:30 a.m. Wake up and pinch myself. How lucky I am to get to do what I’m doing.

7 a.m. Check my email and social media sites.

7:10 a.m. Decide on what pocket square best represents the day.

7:15 a.m. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte.

7:30 a.m. Arrive at one of the most beautiful, historic buildings I have ever seen. I actually get to work here!

7:45 a.m. Meet with my chief of staff to discuss and prep for the day ahead.

8 a.m. Spend one hour with the President’s Leadership Team.

9 a.m. Welcome group of prospective students at the college for their interview. Learn about each of them.

10 a.m. Walk around the college. Thank the faculty for what they do and have a short discussion with as many faculty as possible.

10:45 a.m. Development activities including anything that will help to continue to diversify our revenue and take the burden away from our students and tuition.

Noon. If I’m lucky, I get lunch. I like to walk around the Student Commons and get a sense for how things are going.

1-6 p.m. A typical afternoon includes government/legislative activities, administrative and financial updates, and discovery, as well as one-on-one meetings with key members of the team.

6 p.m. At least two events taking place nearly every evening at the college. Do my best to be present for as many as I can.

7-ish p.m. Put on the headphones, rock the tunes, and walk over to the gym. One-hour-minimum workout. Contemplate my day. What did I achieve? How will I get better tomorrow? Where are our biggest opportunities?

8-ish p.m. Sports on the TV and reading in front of me. At least three books at any given time. Right now, loving Joseph Aoun’s “Robot-Proof.”

Midnight-ish. Give thanks for how blessed I am to have an amazing work and personal family. I have been given an incredible opportunity. As my dad always said, “Expect great things!”

For an inside look at Dr. Purcell’s role as the big man on campus, follow @necoprez on Instagram.