Rachel Stern in the courtyard at the Dell JCC. Credit: Andrew Holmes

Shalom Austin announced on March 12 that Rachel Stern will become its next Chief Executive Officer, beginning July 1, 2026. 

Stern has been a senior leader at Shalom Austin since 2018, previously serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Impact Officer. She has transformed their outreach and engagement strategy, successfully led the growth and sustainability of their global Jewish partnerships, and amplified their commitment to Jewish education and leadership development. 

“The Shalom Austin Board of Directors is thrilled to appoint Rachel Stern as our next CEO. Over the years, we have seen firsthand her ability to pair strategic executive leadership with a deep, personal heart for our mission. We are not just reaching a milestone; we are embarking on a new chapter of growth. Rachel is exactly the visionary leader we need to move us from strength to strength, ensuring that our community continues to thrive for generations to come,” Shalom Austin Board Chair Phil Loewy said.

For Stern, the CEO role is the natural culmination of her 30 years of dedication to the Jewish community, reflecting her deep talent as both a hands-on educator and strategic-minded executive. 

Raised in San Antonio, she has an impressive academic and professional background, including master’s degrees in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College, as well as an honorary doctorate in Jewish Religious Education for 25 years of service in the Jewish professional world. Before joining Shalom Austin, Stern’s career spanned Jewish Federations, graduate schools, synagogues, and regional and national organizations. 

Most notably, Stern spent more than 13 years as the first full-time Director of Education for the Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, where she built a foundation of excellence that still resonates today.   

Stern has an unwavering commitment to the Jewish community, Israel, and Jewish peoplehood. She leads with integrity, a collaborative spirit, and a steadfast passion for Shalom Austin’s mission. 

“I am honored and privileged to step into this role. I am passionate about this work because I am a product of it. My life has been shaped by JCCs, Jewish summer camps, leadership programs, trips to Israel, and so much more. Having the opportunity to share Judaism with others and to strengthen the Jewish community is not just my profession—it is the source of profound meaning in my life,” Stern said.

Stern replaces Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus who stepped down after nearly a decade as Shalom Austin’s CEO to pursue a new role with the JCC Association of North America.