A Life of Imagination, Inspiration, and Influence
Betsy A. Zaborowski, Psy.D.

Dr. Betsy A. Zaborowski was the first executive director of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute. It was her imagination, leadership, and dynamic personality that turned a dream, a one of a kind research and training institute developed and directed by blind people, into reality--a reality that presents a future full of opportunities and previously unimagined accomplishments.

Dr. Zaborowski first became a member of the NFB in 1979. She served the organization in a number of volunteer leadership roles including treasurer of the Colorado affiliate and president of the NFB Human Services Division. She joined the NFB staff in 1995 as director of special programs. Her work in that position focused on building a bridge between the community and the blind. She brought energy and vision to this role, and she built new programs harnessing the collective experience of the blind. 

With tireless dedication, she took on the leadership of a $20 million capital campaign to build a new 170,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the National Center for the Blind. More than a building, this research and training institute was a dream, a hope for the future, the next innovation in the progress the blind have been making for ourselves since we organized in 1940 to establish the National Federation of the Blind. 

In 2001, her leadership, along with the parallel leadership of her partner and husband James Gashel, was honored when the couple was presented with the Jacobus tenBroek Award, the NFB's highest national recognition of exemplary service. 

With her leadership in the capital campaign and her imagination in crafting the early vision for the Institute, it was only fitting that on December 1, 2003, the NFB named Dr. Zaborowski as the first executive director of the NFB Jernigan Institute. For three and one-half years, Dr. Zaborowski built the Institute by establishing outstanding programs and partnerships that had not been previously imagined. 

For the eight years prior to joining the staff of the NFB, she worked as a clinical psychologist in Baltimore. Along with a successful private practice, she taught in the School of Continuing Studies, Graduate Education counseling program at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and lectured at the JHU School of Medicine and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Before her move from Colorado to Baltimore in 1987, she practiced in the field of health psychology for Kaiser Permanente, served as a mental health and university-based counselor, and worked for six years as a grade 6-12 school guidance counselor. 

Dr. Zaborowski received her doctorate in psychology from the University of Denver and her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Menomonie. As a psychologist, she served on and chaired the American Psychological Association's Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology, and she served as chair of the Women's Committee and as delegate-at-large for the Maryland Psychological Association (MPA) Executive Council. 

In 1997 the governor of Maryland appointed Dr. Zaborowski to the Maryland Information Technology Board. She was the first chair of the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities and was appointed to two terms on the Baltimore City Women's Commission. She also served for several years on the Governor's Advisory Board on People with Disabilities and consulted for numerous organizations and companies in areas such as time management, stress management, sexual harassment, leadership skills, and disability issues. 

The Daily Record chose Dr. Zaborowski as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women in 1998 and 2000. In 2003 she was recognized again with this award and was among a select group of previous honorees inducted into the Circle of Excellence of Maryland's Top 100 Women. In 2004 Smart Woman magazine featured her on its cover, and in 2005 Smart CEO magazine featured Dr. Zaborowski as one of twenty-five admired Maryland leaders. 

A native of Wisconsin, her boundless love for life always included pride in her Polish heritage and unwavering support for the Green Bay Packers. Deep in her faith, Dr. Zaborowski was a member of the Catholic Church. In addition to her active professional life, she enjoyed skiing and the camaraderie of a good soiree. Top among her favorites was hosting the Polish Christmas party at her home in Baltimore. 

On November 29, 2007, Dr. Z, as she was affectionately known, lost a nine-month battle with cancer. Yet, her spirit, determination, vision, and faith in the work of the blind are evidenced by the Institute’s accomplishments today and those of the future.  

View the video: A Tribute to Dr. Betsy Zaborowski   
Listen to the audio from Dr. Zaborowski's Memorial Celebration 

Written memories of Betsy Zaborowski’s life and work may be sent to DrZMemories@nfb.org. 

Charcoal portrait of Betsy Zaborowski by Ashleigh Meusel. 

Betsy’s Dream

Betsy dreamed of securing the NFB’s future by providing a financial base for the organization to continue building innovative initiatives like those found in the NFB Jernigan Institute. To do this, she championed the NFB Imagination Fund. One of her final projects was to help craft strategies to raise one million dollars for the Imagination Fund each year--Betsy’s Million Dollars.  

Keep Betsy’s dream alive, make a contribution in her honor to the NFB Imagination Fund and send it to: 

National Federation of the Blind
Attention: Imagination Fund
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland   21230 

Or visit: www.imaginationfund.org