AFB Announces 2026 Kirchner and Gund Award Honorees
CONTACT: Tony Stephens, Assistant Vice-President, Communications 212.502.7627 | tstephens@afb.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 10, 2026) — The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced today the 2026 recipients of the Corinne Kirchner Research Award, which will be presented to Dr. Rachel Schles, assistant professor at Vanderbilt University, and the Llura Gund Leadership Award, which will be presented to Ms. Marissa Miara, director of student services at Marshall B. Ketchum University.
“These two prestigious recognitions, awarded each year by AFB, elevate the work of scholarly and community leaders committed to expanding possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision,” said Eric Bridges, AFB president and CEO. “Through their collective work, both Dr. Schles and Ms. Miara have made a substantial impact on our community, and we’re excited to celebrate their accomplishments at our annual awards ceremony.”
Dr. Schles is recognized for her continued research to accurately count and track the number of students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision in the educational system. Since Congress enacted major education reforms for students with disabilities in the 1970s, accurately counting the number of students eligible for services has remained a challenge. A former teacher of students who are visually impaired (TVI), Dr. Schles’s research has significantly improved this accuracy, providing a realistic understanding of the number of students across the country who require services that can empower them in their educational pursuits. Dr. Schles received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, holds an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University, and a B.A. from Vassar College. In 2016, she was recognized as a teacher of the year by the Council for Exceptional Children Division on Visual Impairments and Deafblindness
Established in 2007, the Corinne Kirchner Research Award recognizes scholars and researchers who have made groundbreaking contributions to the field of blindness and low vision through their published work. Named after Corinne Endreny Kirchner, Ph.D., who set the benchmark against which much of the subsequent research in the field has been compared, AFB presents this award to scholars who have conducted investigations of demographic data, analysis of outcomes for programs and service delivery, and scientific examination of socio-ecological trends in the population of people who are blind or have low vision.
Ms. Marissa Miara currently serves as the Director of Student Services at Marshall B. Ketchum University in Anaheim, California. A graduate of the third cohort of AFB’s Blind Leaders Development Program, Ms. Miara has since earned additional certifications in mental health and wellness. Her work as the director of student services at Ketchum University exemplifies the qualities she herself developed as a member of AFB’s Blind Leaders Development Program. Ms. Miara, who lost her sight shortly after the birth of her first son in her 30s, joined the Blind Leaders Development Program to reclaim her confidence and voice. She now fosters these same qualities each day while working with students at Ketchum University.
Named in honor of Llura Gund, the wife of philanthropist Gordon Gund, this award goes to an outstanding individual who has participated in AFB’s programs and contributed back to the community. The Llura Gund Leadership Award recognizes participants in AFB's programs who demonstrate the potential to make long-lasting contributions to a more accessible and inclusive world. For more information on AFB’s programs, visit www.afb.org/internships.
Join AFB in celebrating these outstanding leaders at a special awards reception on the evening of October 26 in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
For more details, visit www.afb.org/summit.
Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates equal opportunities and expands possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), AFB is also the proud steward of the Helen Keller Archive, which can be accessed on the AFB website at www.afb.org.