Our staff counts among it some of the leading experts in their respective fields, all of whom are available for media-related inquiries.
Mark G. Ackermann
President and CEO of Lighthouse International
Somers Farkas
Director, Special Events
Eleanor E. Faye
Medical Director
Leslie Jones
Executive Director, Music School
Bruce P. Rosenthal
Chief of the Low Vision Programs
Dorrie Rush
Marketing Director, Accessible Technology
Cynthia Stuen
Senior Vice President, Chief Professional Affairs Officer
Larry Anderson
Head of School, The Ethel and Samuel J. LeFrak School
Mark G. Ackermann
President and CEO of Lighthouse International
Mark G. Ackermann assumed the position of Lighthouse International as President and CEO in September of 2009. In joining the Lighthouse, Mr. Ackermann continues his exemplary career in health care leadership, which has spanned more than 30 years.
Mr. Ackermann served in various senior management positions at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center beginning in 1983, and held the position of Chief Administrative Officer of the hospital's successor corporation, St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Centers of New York (SVCMC) until June 2007. He was also President of the SVCMC Foundation and successfully undertook a $100 million capital fundraising campaign, which included funding for the proposed new Rudolph W. Giuliani Trauma Center at St. Vincent's Manhattan.
Among his many achievements, Ackermann and the management team of St. Vincent's expanded the ophthalmology department and created a strong working relationship with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. His executive management skills were honed as Interim President and CEO of St. Clare's Hospital and Health Center during the mid-nineties.
Beginning in 2007, Mr. Ackermann served as the Special Assistant to Edward Cardinal Egan and Executive Director of the Office of the Papal Visit for the Archdiocese of New York. In this capacity, he was responsible for a number of special projects, including all aspects of the visit to New York by Pope Benedict XVI in April 2008; including 8 major events and coordination of federal, state and city agencies and the offices of the Vatican.
Mr. Ackermann received a B.A. in Journalism and Communications from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and an M.S. in Healthcare Management from New York University. He has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions of the New School University, as well as, a Clinical Instructor in the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of New York University, New York. He now lives in Howell, NJ, with his wife June. The couple has six children and one grandchild.
Somers Farkas
Director, Special Events
Somers Farkas is the Director, Special Events at Lighthouse International. Before joining the Lighthouse in 2006 Ms. Farkas worked for non-profit organizations for 15 years. Her area of expertise includes the strategic initiation, planning and execution of fundraising and cultivation events, with a concentration on public relations and marketing. As a special events professional, Ms. Farkas has started the special events departments for 2 national organizations, initiating annual, sustainable events, and increasing the organizational funding base. She has also helped raise millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations both professionally and philanthropically. At the Lighthouse her primary projects involve special events and fundraisers, as well as, community outreach initiatives. Somers Farkas received her BA in Rhetoric and Communications from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Eleanor E. Faye
Medical Director
Dr. Eleanor E. Faye has been with Lighthouse International since 1956 and has served as the Medical Director since January of 2006. Prior to assuming her new position Dr. Faye worked as the Director of the Lighthouse Low Vision Service from 1965 through 1992 and is recognized internationally for her work in this field. Additionally, she is currently the Ophthalmologic Advisor to the Lighthouse Center for Education since 1994.
Dr. Faye was formerly a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Foundation for the Blind, Chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Low Vision Standing Committee (now the Vision Rehabilitation Committee) and is now currently the Chair of the Low Vision Clinical Society. She maintains an ophthalmic practice in New York City.
Dr. Faye’s numerous accolades include two Merit Awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Distinguished Service Award from the American Optometric Association and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the State University of New York College of Optometry.
Dr. Faye was awarded her BA degree from Stanford University and her MD degree in 1950 from Stanford University School of Medicine.
Leslie Jones
Executive Director of Music School
Leslie holds a DMA from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and an MM from the University of North Texas. She has served on the faculties of Ithaca College and Montana State University. A frequent clinician, she is acclaimed nationally for her workshops, "Jazz and the Classical Pianist" and "Musical Mainstream: Fostering Independence through Accessibility." At the Lighthouse, she has been instrumental in developing an assistive music technology center, and expanding community outreach and the visibility of the Music School.
Bruce P. Rosenthal
Chief of the Low Vision Clinical Practice
Dr. Bruce P. Rosenthal is Chief of Low Vision Programs at Lighthouse International and has been affiliated with the organization since 1974. He is a Diplomat in Low Vision, an Adjunct Professor at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Distinguished Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York College of Optometry. Dr. Rosenthal is the former Chair of the AMD Alliance International and its Scientific Advisory Board as well as being Chair of the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association Low Vision sections. Dr. Rosenthal continues to lecture extensively throughout the world and has been the author of seven books, including Living Well with Macular Degeneration.
Dorrie Rush
Marketing Director, Accessible Technology
Dorrie Rush joined Lighthouse International in 2001 as Marketing Director of Accessible Technology. Before joining the Lighthouse, Ms. Rush spent 20 years in the apparel industry, running high volume businesses in partnerships with major department stores, and launching a London based online fashion information network (WGSN) to top American designers and retailers. Her career transition into development at the Lighthouse, sparked by personal interest and commitment to the mission, was fueled by her strength in communications and skills in relationship building. In 2007, she turned her focus from fund-raising to accessible technology, particularly universal access, a topic of great and growing interest to people with all degrees of vision impairment. She is proud to represent the Lighthouse and all it can do to help people, like her, who are coping with declining vision. She has appeared on CBS, Fox and NBC News programs and authors “Dorrie’s Sight,” a blog at www.dorriessight.blogspot.com.
Cynthia Stuen
Senior Vice President, Policy, Professional Affairs and Education
Cynthia Stuen is Senior Vice President, Policy and Professional Affairs at Lighthouse International. She oversees the Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute and the Center for Education. Ms. Stuen also advocates for policy at the national, state and local levels while also maintaining involvement in international efforts to preserve sight and prevent excess disability resulting from vision impairment.
Dr. Stuen is currently the Principal Investigator on a 3-year AHRQ grant, “Creating an Evidence Base for Vision Rehabilitation.” She also acts as a consultant on a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to offer innovative online training for vision rehabilitation paraprofessionals. Her numerous publications, presentations and research endeavors cover topics of age-related sensory loss, access to environments for older adults with impaired vision and contributions older adults, their family and friends can make to program planning and service delivery. She is also Chair-elect of the American Society on Aging and received the ASA Leadership Award in 2005.
Dr. Stuen received her Bachelor’s Degree from Valparaiso University, her Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration and her Doctorate from Columbia University School of Social Work.
Larry Anderson
Head of School, The Ethel and Samuel J. LeFrak School
Laurance “Larry” Anderson is the Head of School for The Ethel and Samuel J. LeFrak School at Lighthouse International. Larry joined the Child Development Center team in October 2011. Larry has over 20 years of experience as an educator and school administrator in the New York City metropolitan area. He has worked with students, families and faculty in both general and special education environments and holds certifications from both the New York and New Jersey Departments of Education.
He previously held the position of Head of School at the Grace Episcopal Church/Day School in Massapequa, New York and Principal at the Jacob Gunther School in the North Bellmore Union Free School District on Long Island. Additionally, Larry has held positions as a Learning Disability and Special Education Teacher, and is an Adjunct Professor of Special Education at Adelphi University.
Larry holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration/Management from City College of New York (Baruch School) and a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education from New York University. He also did considerable post-graduate work at Montclair State College in the LDT/C program and administrative/supervisory school leadership certification programs.
