Woman in blue sweater vest with blue shirt outdoors smiling

Laura Zumdahl

AM ’04, PhD, LSW
Fields of interest
Economic Mobility of Mothers, Child Welfare, Children, Adolescents, and Families

Recipient of the 2024 Milestone Achievement Award

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D, LSW, is the President and CEO of New Moms, a social impact organization focused on helping young moms achieve economic mobility and create strong families. She also serves as CEO of New Moms’ social enterprise, Bright Endeavors, a candle company that provides paid transitional jobs to young women in New Moms’ job training program.  

Laura’s career has been focused on growing and developing effective nonprofit organizations. She’s served in various leadership roles in the nonprofit sector in capacity building, legal aid, higher education, and child welfare. She serves on the Board of Directors for AMPT and the Mission Sustainability Initiative at Forefront, as an appointed Commissioner for the State of Illinois Youth Budget Commission and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and Chief.  

Laura earned a B.A. in Sociology from Trinity Christian College, an M.A. in Social Work from the University of Chicago, Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, and a Ph.D. in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. She’s a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Illinois.