Henry Samueli
Henry Samueli was born in Buffalo, NY and grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA in 1975, 1976 and 1980, respectively. From 1980 to 1985 he was employed in various engineering and management positions in the Electronics and Technology Division of TRW, Inc., a military communications defense contractor now part of Northrop-Grumman. Since 1985 he has been a professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at UCLA, and since 2003 he has also served as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at UC Irvine. In 1991 he co-founded Broadcom Corporation, a global leader in providing semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications and took a leave of absence from UCLA in 1995 to be at Broadcom full-time. In 2016 Broadcom Corporation was acquired by Avago Technologies Limited and renamed Broadcom Limited. He continues to serve as Chief Technical Officer and Board Member of Broadcom Limited. He is a named inventor in 75 U.S. patents. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2000, a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2003, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004.
Since relocating to Orange County, CA in 1995, Susan and Henry have become very active in the community. Susan is on the Board of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Samueli Academy, a public Charter High School in Santa Ana for community, underserved and foster teens. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute at UC Irvine. In 2000, she was honored with the UC Irvine Medal. In 2002, she received the Ellen Cooperman Angel Award from the John Wayne Cancer Institute. In 2005, she received the General William Lyon Crystal Vision Philanthropy Award from the Orangewood Children’s Foundation. In 2012 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the Southern California University of Health Sciences, and in 2015 she received the Health Heroes Award from UC Irvine.
Henry serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of both the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine. In 2000 he was awarded the University of California Presidential Medal, the UC Irvine Medal, the UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Science Alumnus of the Year, and the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Industrial Pioneer Award. In 2005 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year from UCLA. In 2006 he received the IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Industry Leaders Award. In 2010 he received the UCLA Medal. In 2011 he received the Global Semiconductor Alliance Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award. In 2012 he was awarded the Marconi Society Prize and Fellowship, and in 2017 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan.
In December of 2003, Susan and Henry purchased the management contract for the Honda Center sports and entertainment venue, creating Anaheim Arena Management, LLC, to oversee all operations of the arena, and in June of 2005 they purchased the Anaheim Ducks National Hockey League club, Honda Center’s largest tenant. In 2007, the Anaheim Ducks became the first California team ever to win the Stanley Cup championship. Henry serves on the Executive Committee of the NHL Board of Governors. In 2016, J.D. Power named the Anaheim Ducks as the Highest Ranked Professional Sports Fan Experience in the Los Angeles market.
Susan Samueli
Susan Samueli was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She earned a B.S. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 1972. From 1972 to 1985 she was with IBM Corporation, where she worked initially as a software programmer in the Federal Systems Division, Westlake Village, CA, and then as a Systems Engineer in the National Marketing Division, Los Angeles, CA, providing technical marketing and sales support for IBM’s mid-range computer systems. In 1985 she left IBM and focused her energy on raising her children, at which time she developed a keen interest in alternative health care. She developed an active consulting practice in the areas of nutrition, homeopathy and Chinese herbs, and subsequently received a Ph.D. degree in nutrition from the American Holistic College of Nutrition in 1993 and a diploma in Homeopathy from the British Institute of Homeopathy in 1994.
Gerald Solomon
Executive Director
Gerald Solomon serves as the Executive Director for the Samueli Foundation, overseeing Samueli Philanthropy. Prior to this position, Mr. Solomon served as President & CEO of Public Health Foundation Enterprises (PHFE) for seven (7) years where he transformed the organization from an LA-centric provider of funding and services into national prominence.
Mr. Solomon offers a diverse executive leadership background, having served as President and CEO of several highly successful and nationally recognized nonprofit as well as for-profit organizations, including a distinguished 18 year career as a civil trial attorney and Judge Pro Tem.
Michelle Freeman
Program Officer
Michelle Freeman serves as Program Officer, overseeing grantee capacity building, program development, project management, evaluation, communications, data analysis and reporting.
She has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and a Court Appointed Special Advocate. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services with a minor in Child and Adolescent Studies from California State University, Fullerton, a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies.
Wayan Kaufman
Office Manager/Grants Administrator
Wayan Kaufman serves as Office Manager/Grants Administrator, overseeing grants management, communications, and special projects for the Foundation.
She has over a decade of experience with Orange County nonprofits, both in staff and volunteer capacity, spanning arts, higher education, and food justice organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.