Helen Keller Services CEO Dr. Susan Ruzenski to Retire After 47 Years
Dr. Susan Ruzenski will retire as Chief Executive Officer of Helen Keller Services on January 1, 2027, after 47 years with the organization.
SANDS POINT, N.Y. (October 27, 2026) Helen Keller Services (HKS) today announced that Dr. Susan Ruzenski, its Chief Executive Officer, will retire effective January 1, 2027, after 47 years with the organization. The Board of Trustees will undertake a national search for the next Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Ruzenski spent 22 years as Director of Direct Services, building person-centered programs grounded in skill development and community participation. She went on to lead the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC) as Executive Director before being named CEO of Helen Keller Services in 2021.
As CEO, she led the organization’s expansion into early childhood education on Long Island, with new Children’s Learning Center preschools in Islandia and Plainview for children with complex learning needs. She brought DeafBlind employment specialists and community services programs into local communities, guided development of a learning platform co-created with the DeafBlind community, and launched the annual HKS AccessAbility Awards, which honor organizations that build accessibility into their products and services. She also helped bring the Academy Award-nominated short film Feeling Through to the screen, drawing national attention to DeafBlind representation.
“For 47 years, Sue has devoted her career to the people we serve, and her leadership is evident in every program Helen Keller Services offers,” said Larry Kinitsky, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the Board, I thank her for extraordinary service. Sue leaves an organization that is growing, with strong programs, talented colleagues and committed partners.”
“It has been a tremendous privilege to lead this organization and to work alongside so many colleagues, partners, supporters and participants who share our commitment to creating opportunities for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind,” said Dr. Ruzenski. “HKS is growing and innovating, and it is well positioned to build on its legacy and create even greater impact in the years ahead.”
Dr. Ruzenski will continue to lead HKS until her retirement, and the executive team will ensure continuity across every program and partnership during the transition. City & State recently named her a 2026 Long Island Trailblazer. She holds a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
About Helen Keller Services
Founded in Brooklyn in 1893, Helen Keller Services enables individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision to live, work, and thrive in the communities of their choice. Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB) serves the New York metro area and Long Island, from preschool at the Children’s Learning Center and Camp Helen Keller to vocational rehabilitation, employment services, and support for older adults with vision loss. The Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC), established by an act of Congress in 1967 and headquartered in Sands Point with regional offices nationwide, is the only comprehensive vocational rehabilitation program in the country serving individuals who are DeafBlind. Learn more at helenkeller.org.
Media contact:
Matt Salaverry
msalaverry@helenkeller.org
516.393.7553
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