The Blinded Veterans Association’s National Board of Directors has appointed Lea Rowe as the new National Executive Director. She has most recently served in the dual role of Interim National Executive Director for the past four months and the National Legislative Director since January 2025. The appointment is effective immediately.

Lea brings 21 years of experience in nonprofit management to the position of Executive Director, including her tenure as Head of Client Services at Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth, Texas, from June 2021 until joining BVA last year. She has also served as the Business Solutions Manager and a Special Projects Coordinator for Tarrant County (Texas) Public Health, and as the Executive Director for the Charis Health Center in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.

With a deep passion for serving the blind and low vision community, Lea is committed to advocating for the needs of blind and low vision veterans. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from University of Texas Tyler and graduated this past June with a Master of Science Degree in Low Vision Rehabilitation from Salus University (now the Elkins Park Campus of Drexel University), at the same time receiving certification as a Low Vision Therapist.