Judy Karofsky was one of Wisconsin’s first women mayors. During her term of office in the city of Middleton, she established a now-thriving senior center and emergency medical services. She served on the executive staff of a governor and held multiple roles in housing and economic development for a state agency, a nonprofit housing development organization, and her own research firm.
Before organizing and providing care for her mother, Judy filled interim positions for a statewide women’s network—focusing on elder economic security—and for a coalition of state aging groups. She has written on institutional investing in seniors housing. Serving on nonprofit and municipal boards, she participates in policy discussions on demographic trends, affordable housing, and urban growth.
Judy holds an AB cum laude from Bryn Mawr College (economics) and master’s degrees from Brandeis University (American history) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (business). She completed eight marathons, several half-marathons, and countless 10K races. An only child, the mother of three, and grandmother of five, she lives in downtown Madison
