James Kutsch
James Kutsch is an American computer scientist who currently served as the President of The Seeing Eye (2006-2019). As a teenager, he lost his eyesight as the result of a "backyard chemistry experiment that went wrong".[1] He studied at West Virginia University, gaining a BSc in psychology and an MSc in Computer Science, before attending the University of Illinois, where he was awarded a PhD in Computer Science.[2] As part of his PhD he designed the first talking computer for the blind, and also developed one of the earliest screen readers.[1] After graduation, he held a number of roles with AT&T.[1] In 1996 Kutsch became Vice President of at Convergys Corporation, and was promoted to Vice President of Strategic Technology in 2003.[2] From the 1990s onwards he served as a member of the board of trustees of The Seeing Eye, and in 2006 became its first blind President.[1]
He retired from The Seeing Eye in 2019.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Baum, Joan (January 2013). "Education Update - The World of the Sightless: Dr. James Kutsch". Education Update. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ a b "James Kutsch: Executive Profile & Biography". Businessweek. Retrieved 5 February 2014.