Helen Keller Services CEO to Step Down After Four Decades

Dr. Susan Ruzenski will step down as chief executive officer of Helen Keller Services on Jan. 1, 2027, concluding a 47-year tenure with the Long Island based organization. The board of trustees announced the decision on Oct. 27 and plans to launch a national search for a successor. Ruzenski will remain in her role through the transition period, working with her executive team to maintain continuity across the organization’s programs and partnerships.

Ruzenski joined Helen Keller National Center in the late 1970s as a special educator. She began her career living on the organization’s campus in Sands Point, where she worked directly with participants traveling from across the country. She described that initial immersion in the community as the defining moment of her professional life. "The participants that came from across the country really made such an impression on me that I never looked back," she said.

Over the following decades, Ruzenski moved into various leadership roles. She served as director of direct services for 22 years, focusing on person-centered programs for skill development. She later became executive director of the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults before assuming the CEO position in 2021.

During her time as CEO, Ruzenski oversaw several major expansions. The organization opened new Children’s Learning Center preschools in Islandia and Plainview for children with complex learning needs. She also increased the availability of DeafBlind employment specialists nationwide and launched the annual HKS AccessAbility Awards to recognize accessibility in business. Her tenure also saw the release of the Academy Award nominated short film "Feeling Through," which brought national attention to DeafBlind representation.

Ruzenski credited her team for the organization’s progress, emphasizing a shift toward prioritizing individual choice and independence in service delivery. "We’re opening doors but really helping them create the life that they want," she said. "We’re following their lead."

Larry Kinitsky, chair of the Board of Trustees, praised Ruzenski’s long term dedication. "For 47 years, Sue has devoted her career to the people we serve," Kinitsky said. "Sue leaves an organization that is growing, with strong programs, talented colleagues and committed partners."

Ruzenski, a 2026 Long Island Trailblazer, holds a doctorate from Teachers College at Columbia University. She has lived on Long Island for her entire career and plans to spend more time with her seven grandchildren after her departure.