Day School Affordability & The Catholic School Model
March 26, 2026
Seattle, WA | May 2026 – The Samis Foundation announces the appointment of Judy Zall Neuman as Board Chair, effective March 2026. A trustee since 2019, Neuman succeeds outgoing Chair David Ellenhorn.
Judy brings a legacy of leadership in both the Jewish community and private sector. Upon learning of Judy’s new role as Samis Board Chair, Emeritus Trustee Lucy Pruzan highlighted Neuman’s “special brand of outstanding leadership, savvy and warm personality” and her transformative tenure as CEO of the Stroum Jewish Community Center (SJCC) from 2009–2017.
Judy has deep roots in the Jewish community holding leadership roles across the community, including 15 years on the Board of Jewish Family Service (JFS) where she served as President and Co-chair of the JFS $25M Capital Campaign and Strategic Planning, leadership roles with the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, including General Campaign Chair and Planning & Allocations Chair, and current service on the National Board of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. She is a Wexner Fellow (1997) and a former member of the JFNA Young Leadership Cabinet.
Judy spent 30 years as a leader in the private sector as a digital pioneer at Eddie Bauer from 1990–1999. She served as VP of Interactive Media and launched the company’s e-commerce platform in 1995. She was a Partner at Maveron LLC and a Managing Partner at CenterStone Executive Search.
Neuman is recognized for her honesty, intellect, and passion for cultivating a vibrant Jewish future. In addition to her formal volunteer roles, she remains a dedicated mentor to young Jewish professionals. She lives in West Seattle with her husband, Nissim, and has three adult children and two grandchildren.
“Judy has an extraordinary depth and breadth of experiences [and] a clear understanding of the Foundation’s vision and goals…we are in challenging times, but I know she will be a great leader for Samis going forward.” — remarked David Ellenhorn, Outgoing Board Chair.
