NEW YORK (February 9, 2016)—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has named Susan Mazrui, a former AFB Trustee, the recipient of the 2016 Stephen Garff Marriott Award. The award honors a blind or visually impaired individual who has served as an extraordinary mentor or who has attained remarkable professional success.
"Susan Mazrui serves as a true role model and visionary," said Carl R. Augusto, AFB president and CEO. "Throughout her career, she has been a leader and trailblazer in ensuring equal access for individuals with disabilities through her corporate and federal work. It is a pleasure to recognize someone who is truly passionate about disability advocacy, and whose successes have meant so much to so many."
Susan Mazrui is a director for Public Policy at AT&T. She began work at Pacific Bell in 1994, where she gained experience in marketing, as well as external and regulatory affairs. In 1998, she moved to the wireless field, where she developed corporate strategies for state and federal legal and regulatory compliance. Under her leadership, Cingular Wireless became the first national carrier to offer “talking” cellphones and accessible smartphones. At AT&T, Mazrui was instrumental in establishing the Corporate Accessibility Technology Office, which assesses AT&T products and services for accessibility and usability.
Today, she works on disability-related public policy issues and serves as the co-chair of the Federal Communications Disability Advisory Committee. She currently serves on the board of the U.S. International Council on Disability and the Disability Equality Index advisory committee. Mazrui was the 2002 Summit on Leading Diversity Corporate Fellow and was inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2013, she was recognized as Employee of the Year by Careers and the disABLED, and in 2014 by AT&T as a Champion of Diversity.
Mazrui received her master’s degree in Education and Special Education Credential at San Francisco State University.
The Stephen Garff Marriott Award was established in honor of the late Stephen Garff Marriott, who lost his vision later in life and served as an exemplary role model to others with vision loss. He rose to the upper ranks at Marriott International through hard work and tenacity, and was known for being a talented executive, sales trainer and ambassador of the Marriott brand.
The Stephen Garff Marriott Award will be presented at the 2016 AFB Leadership Conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott on March 3.
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About AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.
About the American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference
The 2016 AFB Leadership Conference, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Delta Gamma Foundation, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ and CTA Foundation, Google, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sprint, CTIA, Freedom Scientific, IBM and many others, seeks to improve the quality of programs and services to blind and visually impaired children and adults. The AFB Leadership Conference provides a forum in which leadership personnel in the blindness field have the opportunity to increase their awareness of student and client needs, expand their knowledge, refine leadership skills and share concerns and strategies.
Contact:
Amanda Kolling
Communications and Marketing Manager
American Foundation for the Blind
Tel. (304) 710-3031
akolling@afb.net
