American Foundation for the Blind Announces 2026 Kirchner and Gund Award Honorees

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has announced the 2026 recipients of its Corinne Kirchner Research Award and Llura Gund Leadership Award. The Corinne Kirchner Research Award will be presented to Rachel Schles, Ph.D., assistant professor at Vanderbilt University; the Llura Gund Leadership Award will be presented to Marissa Miara, director of student services at Marshall B. Ketchum University, the Foundation said. “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.