Paul Healy, former Chair of the NIB Board of Directors, receives the award in recognition of his dedicated service to the organization and hand in expanding NIB’s reach and impact
ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 27, 2026—Paul Healy, Ph.D., former chair of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Board of Directors, is the recipient of the 2026 R.B. Irwin Award.
The Irwin Award is the highest honor presented by NIB to a professional or volunteer in NIB’s community who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to creating and improving employment opportunities for people who are blind, have low vision, or are visually impaired.
Named in memory of Dr. Robert B. Irwin, who was executive director of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) in the 1930s, the award recognizes individuals whose leadership and service reflect the values that guided the passage of the Wagner-O’Day Act in 1938, and the subsequent formation of NIB.
Healy served on NIB’s Board of Directors for a total of 13 years, from 2005-2009 and 2016-2025. Throughout his Board tenure, Healy contributed to and led numerous committees, including Audit and Ethics, Investment, Budget and Finance, and Strategic Planning. He also chaired the Performance Management Committee and served on the Executive Committee while he held the offices of treasurer, vice chairperson, and chairperson. Most recently, Healy chaired the search committee that appointed current NIB President and CEO, Soraya Correa.
“Paul’s leadership and unwavering commitment to our mission have made a profound and lasting impact on NIB and the thousands of people we serve,” said NIB President and CEO Soraya Correa. “He understood that strong governance, ethical leadership, and mission-driven focus are essential to expanding opportunities for people who are blind. Paul’s leadership and legacy reflect the very purpose of the Irwin Award.”
As part of his tenure with the Board, Healy helped NIB navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, developed and executed a strategic plan to help NIB both grow employment at NIB’s associated nonprofit agencies and expand employment opportunities for people who are blind, educate employers about the impactful contributions of people who are blind, and increase job accessibility. While on the Board, Healy also championed the launch of NSITE, NIB’s talent management enterprise, to connect corporate leadership with exceptional talent and dedicated employees and advocated for growth pathways for people who are blind or visually impaired.
“It was a privilege to serve alongside Paul and witness firsthand his steady leadership and deep commitment to NIB’s mission,” said NIB Chairperson Zach Klipa. “The Irwin Award is a well-deserved recognition for his years of service and the lasting impact he made on the organization and the broader community.”
Healy is a New Zealand native who earned accounting and finance degrees from Victoria University of Wellington, and a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in New York. He has received numerous honors for his research and served as chair of doctoral programs, chair of the Accounting and Management Unit, and senior associate dean for both research and faculty development at Harvard Business School. His interests include financial analysis, governance, mergers and acquisitions, and business ethics.
For more information on National Industries for the Blind, visit www.nib.org.
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About National Industries for the Blind
Incorporated in 1938, NIB is the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind, and through its network of associated nonprofit agencies, is the largest employer of people who are blind in the U.S. NIB creates opportunities for people who are blind to become wage earners and taxpayers, reducing their reliance on government support and increasing engagement in their communities. The organization offers career training and assists employers and employees in developing mutually beneficial workplaces. NIB’s vision is that blindness is not a barrier to employment. In 2021, NIB launched a national talent management enterprise known as NSITE. NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind or visually impaired, including veterans. For more information, visit www.nib.org or www.nsite.org.