CHICAGO— Prevent Blindness has elected Carole Kenner, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and professor at the School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey; and J. David Pierson, founder of J. David Optical Consultancy, to the Prevent Blindness board of directors. The vote was held on March 7 at the 2015 Spring board meeting held in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“First, I want to welcome Ms. Kenner to our Prevent Blindness family. We are looking forward to working with her and gaining her invaluable insight as a medical professional as well as experience working with students and patients as to the best strategies to educate the public on vision and eye health,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “And, I’d like to welcome Mr. Pierson back to our board. His dedication to our organization over the years is truly remarkable, and we thank him for his continued service.”

At The College of New Jersey, Dr. Kenner oversees the school’s nursing, health and exercise science programs. She also serves as a board member and CEO of Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc., and organization she founded. Her clinical work focused on neonates and their families, including infants with visual impairments. She received multiple awards and honors, including Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, Fellow in the National Academies of Practice and the Audrey Hepburn Award for International Work for Children’s Welfare.

Pierson has been a long-time volunteer for Prevent Blindness. He helped establish the organization’s Cleveland chapter, where he served as the chair of the Chapter Executive Council and as a member of the Prevent Blindness Ohio state board of directors. Pierson was presented with the Prevent Blindness America 2006 Visionary Award for his dedication and service to the organization, and was elected to the Prevent Blindness board of directors in 2009. Pierson also served as past president of the National Association of Optometrists and Opticians, and on the board of Directors, Greater St. Louis United Way.