Peggi Howard Named President & CEO

Former Drew University administrator, New Jersey cabinet secretary to helm guide dog school

A photo of Peggi Howard holding a small yellow Labrador retriever puppy.

Morristown, N.J. – Margaret “Peggi” Howard, MSW, D.Litt., has been named President & Chief Executive Officer of The Seeing Eye by its Board of Trustees.

Dr. Howard had been serving as Interim President & CEO since December. She first joined The Seeing Eye as a member of its Board of Trustees in 2009.

Dr. Howard, a resident of White House Station, N.J., served as Vice President of Administration and University Relations at Drew University from 1990 to 2014. Prior to that, she was New Jersey Gov. Thomas H. Kean’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary from 1984 to 1990. She has a doctor of letters from Drew University, a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University, and a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.

Dr. Howard is the first woman to lead The Seeing Eye since our co-founder, Dorothy Harrison Eustis, served as Board Chair and President from 1929 to 1940.

“The Seeing Eye is an incredibly rewarding place,” she said. “The staff, the graduates, the puppy raisers, the volunteers, the donors, and of course, the dogs, have welcomed me with open arms or, in some cases, wagging tails. It is an honor to join this team.”

Thomas Duffy, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said Dr. Howard’s distinguished career in academia, government, and social services, as well as her service as a member of the Board of Trustees, made her the perfect candidate for the position.

“I can’t imagine a person better suited than Peggi to lead The Seeing Eye toward its 100th anniversary,” Mr. Duffy said. “Over the last nine months, she has been implementing strategic initiatives to carry out The Seeing Eye’s mission of breeding, raising, and training the world’s best guide dogs, and instructing people who are blind or visually impaired in their care and use.”

The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye® dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. The Seeing Eye is a 501(c)3 non-profit supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, bequests, and other planned gifts.

The Seeing Eye is a trademarked name and can only be used to describe the dogs bred and trained at the school’s facilities in Morristown, N.J. For more information on The Seeing Eye, visit www.SeeingEye.org, call (973) 539-4425, or email info@seeingeye.org.