Jewish Foundation for Education of Women

Our Scholars have an incredible support system, and it starts with these amazing people!

Last week, staff and campus program directors came together for a luncheon to align, connect, and keep building the foundation that helps our Scholars thrive.

To our program directors: thank you for showing up every day for the next generation of women leaders. 💙

At , we don't just Support scholars, we support the research that changes the systems they navigate.

Since 2015, we've funded research and advocacy, tackling food & housing insecurity, student-parent success, single-mother education, financial aid access, and more, across CUNY, SUNY, and beyond.

Our grantees have included , , , the , and others working at the intersection of gender, economic mobility, and higher education.

Because lasting change requires more than individual support — it requires systemic solutions.

We issue a Call for Proposals every two years. Stay tuned for updates.

✨ Alum Spotlight: Leiann Rombaoa ✨

Leiann entered college without the tools or mentors to guide her, but JFEW helped change that. Today, she's a doctoral student in nurse anesthesia at Columbia University, a 2023 NYU Nursing Excellence Award recipient, and a fierce advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

From outpatient hemodialysis → neuroscience nursing → critical care ICU → Columbia CRNA program.

She now mentors fellow nurses, serves on a student admissions committee, and participates in medical missions to the Philippines through the Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society (FANAS).

"JFEW truly believed in me, and that helped change my trajectory." 💙

12,000+ alumnae. 150+ years. 💙

The JFEW community spans generations, women who walked across campuses from east coast to west coast, driven by ambition and determination, and connected by the belief that education changes everything.

Want to stay connected to this legacy? Subscribe to our newsletter for scholar spotlights, alum stories, research updates, and more. 🔗 Link in bio.

✨ Alum Spotlight: Beth Weitzman ✨

The JFEW scholarship gave Beth the freedom to choose meaningful work over higher-paying jobs when she was a college student, and a fuller college experience that set her on an extraordinary path.

Fueled by a deep commitment to anti-poverty solutions, Beth went from sociology student → MPA → NYC Department of Education researcher → 38-year faculty member at NYU.

Today, Beth is Professor of Health and Public Policy in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at NYU Steinhardt, dedicated to growing and improving the public programs that support people just like her younger self.

"The JFEW funds reduced the pressure and allowed me a more complete college experience."

And now she helps do the same for the next generation as a JFEW Board Member. 💙

What an amazing gathering of JFEW Alumnae last Thursday evening! So much fun and so many great ideas shared! Stay-tuned for our Alumnae newsletter in January and more to come in 2026.💕

Meet Your Program Director!
This fall, Renee Muza, Program Director for JFEW Hunter College Scholars, has thoughts on how you can make the most out of your JFEW program year!

Meet Your Program Director!
This fall, Ophir Gilad, Program Director for JFEW Footsteps Scholars, has thoughts on how you can make the most out of your JFEW program year!

Meet Your Program Director!
This fall, Alyssa Schuck, Program Director for JFEW Stern College Scholars, has thoughts on how you can make the most out of your JFEW program year!

This fall, Ozzy Girit Heck, Program Director for JFEW SUNY Binghamton Scholars, has thoughts on how you can make the most out of your JFEW program year!