Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus, who has served as Chief Executive Officer at Shalom Austin for the past ten years, will be transitioning from the organization to pursue a new professional opportunity as the first Executive Director of the newly established Center for Jewish Peoplehood with the JCC Association of North America beginning July 1, 2026.

Rabbi Septimus will continue in the CEO role for the next seven months to ensure a thoughtful, seamless transition for staff, partners and the community.

Shalom Austin Board Chair Phil Loewy shared heartfelt recognition of Rabbi Septimus’ impact.

“Rabbi Septimus has been a transformative leader for the past decade,” Loewy said. “His ability to bring people together, inspire collaboration and remain committed to our mission and values has left a lasting mark. We are thankful for all he has built, for the energy and dedication he has brought to Shalom Austin and this role, and for the meaningful impact he has made on our community.”

Rabbi Septimus has served as a congregational rabbi, Hillel director, and, most recently, CEO of Shalom Austin.

At Shalom Austin, Rabbi Septimus guided the organization through a transformative era of growth, resilience, and community leadership. He oversaw a $40 million capital campaign to expand and renovate the Dell JCC facilities and move the Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service headquarters to the Dell Jewish Community Campus. He grew annual revenue from $12 million to more than $28 million — at which time membership more than doubled.

He launched a strategic plan focused on forming a stronger connection to Israel and the Jewish people and recognized the need to build infrastructure to address Greater Austin’s growing geographical diversity. Those efforts resulted in strengthened engagement and philanthropy and expanded Israel and Jewish peoplehood initiatives, including inaugurating Austin’s Z3 conference.

Rabbi Septimus also led the community through rising antisemitism, convening major public gatherings, launching the “No Hate in the Lone Star State” campaign, mobilizing over 1,500 faith and civic leaders, and coordinating the local response following the October 7 attacks. Under his leadership, the community raised $2.8 million for the Israel Emergency Campaign. More recently, he led a national community effort raising more than $840,000 to support families and individuals affected by the Central Texas floods.

Rabbi Septimus reflected on the decision. “Serving Shalom Austin and the Greater Austin Jewish community for the past decade has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Rabbi Septimus said. “This community has shaped me in ways I will carry forever. While it is bittersweet to bring this chapter to a close, I am filled with gratitude — for our staff, our volunteers, our leadership, our partners, and the many individuals who make this place so special. I remain fully committed to a smooth transition and will continue working alongside our team in the months ahead.”

In his new role at the JCC Association, Rabbi Septimus will oversee a broad portfolio of Jewish identity, education, and community-building programs across North America, Israel, and beyond. He will provide strategic leadership, strengthen partnerships with JCC executives, staff, and boards, and engage with funders and community leaders.

The Shalom Austin Board of Directors will share additional updates regarding the transition process in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Shalom Austin’s work will continue uninterrupted, supported by the strength and stability of its dedicated staff and leadership.