Friends of Seva,
Suzanne Gilbert, our esteemed Senior Director at Seva Foundation, has made the heartfelt decision to retire from her staff position, effective June 2024.
She made this decision in June of 2023, and we have spent the past year preparing for this significant transition. Suzanne’s unwavering commitment to our mission since Seva’s founding in 1978 has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her innovative spirit has been a driving force behind Seva as a volunteer, Executive Director, Program Director, Research Director, and Seva ambassador globally.
As an eyecare trailblazer and one of our cherished Founders, Suzanne has demonstrated her remarkable ability to inspire and forge new paths. The impact she has had on our mission and work cannot be overstated, and we deeply value the time she has generously provided and will continue to provide to facilitate an effective and smooth transition.
In the coming weeks, we will continue to work closely with her technical expertise and advisory prowess, which will pave the way for groundbreaking initiatives in the future. We believe the best way to honor Suzanne, her work, and her legacy is to do well by it.
And do well by it we shall.
The throughlines that connect Suzanne (and other founders we hold so dear) to the current and future staff are a command of science, a firm belief in strong communities, and personal compassion in action combined with a healthy dose of levity. Seva has a talented and purpose-driven team and respected partners, and we carefully listen to the people we serve. We’re ready to take Seva forward and end avoidable blindness in our lifetime.
Read on to hear more of her remarkable story and the difference she has made to so many.
Yours in service,
Kate Moynihan
CEO/Executive Director
About the author
Kate Moynihan
Kate Moynihan is an impassioned leader and decision-maker who has overseen programs in networked organizations and social enterprises in resource-constrained settings, internationally and in the United States. She is a catalyst for institutional and systems change, partnering successfully with diverse international organizations to deliver world-class leadership for mission-based social justice around the globe. Throughout Kate’s career, she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living in disadvantaged, marginalized segments of the world. Kate currently serves as CEO / Executive Director of the Seva Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, California that transforms lives by restoring sight to individuals in areas with limited access to eye care.
4 comments on “Letter from the Executive Director – Spring 2024”
In 1994 I was elected as the chair of Sevas NIPAG ( Neighborhood Initiatives Program Action Group). Suzanne Gilbert,provided the guidance and experience to get the program going and to our eventual accomplishment.
I have cherished memories of the Hog Farm. PIgnic ,working the Seva booth, and having a great time with Suzanne, ,her husband Tim,and Tamara.
SUZANNE GILBERT IS A AWSOME LEADER IN COMMUNITY OPHTHALMOLOGY.
SHE HAS SET THE PATH, IF FOLLOWED DELIGENTLY…. BLINDNESS CAN BE TAMED, IF NOT ERADICATED.
GREETINGS SUZANNE ! ENJOY YOUR WELL EARNED RETIREMENT !
There are so many remarkable people at SEVA but none with more time and impact than her.
Thank you Susan , you inspire me to do more.
Kerry
PS see you at the party