After an extensive national search, the board of directors of the Ronald Gardenswartz JCC of Greater Albuquerque is proud to announce the selection of Gal Stav as the organization’s next CEO.
For 25 years, the JCC of Greater Albuquerque has been a place where people come to belong, find community across generations, celebrate Jewish life and build something together. Stav has spent her career doing exactly that work, and the board is pleased to welcome her as the person to lead it forward.
“The JCC has always been at its best when it’s a place people feel they truly belong,” said Ron Winger, the board president, in a press release. “As we enter an exciting new chapter, with a growing campus, expanding programs, and deepening community engagement, we needed a leader who understands that the physical and the programmatic only matter if the human connection is real. Gal has built that kind of community before, from the ground up, and she brings the strategic clarity and warmth of spirit to do it here. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome her.”
Stav brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in Jewish communal life, education, operations and community-building. She most recently completed a doctoral research project in Jewish Studies at Syracuse University focused on long-term trends in Jewish community life and public discourse.
Prior to that, she served as executive director of Midbarna — a municipal Jewish cultural community initiative in Israel — where she founded and grew a multi-generational cultural organization that came to serve thousands of residents through programming, partnerships and community engagement rooted in a single conviction: that when people are genuinely connected to one another, communities thrive. Her background also includes leadership in external relations, fundraising and organizational development across diverse stakeholder communities.
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“The search committee is thrilled to welcome Gal Stav as the JCC’s new CEO,” said Sonya Priestly, the search committee chair. “From the beginning, Gal impressed us with her energy, strategic thinking and deep appreciation for the many ways the JCC serves our community. We believe Gal has the experience, judgment, and collaborative spirit needed to lead the JCC as we continue to grow and serve the community. Gal is a strong believer in strengthening community across all ages and backgrounds. We’re excited for the community to get to know Gal and are confident the JCC will thrive under her leadership.”
Stav steps into a role shaped by years of dedicated leadership from retiring CEO Shelly Prant, whose tenure has touched nearly a third of the JCC’s entire history. Under Prant’s guidance, the organization expanded its mission-driven programming, deepened its community relationships, and undertook a transformative campus improvement project — including a new splash pad, pickleball courts, renovated locker rooms, an updated café and game area and an expanded preschool. The board extends its profound gratitude to Prant for the strength, vision, and care she brought to the organization, and for the foundation she leaves behind.
“I’m truly excited and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the JCC and become part of such a warm and vibrant community,” said Stav. “For me, community is about people, connection and creating a place where everyone feels they belong. I’m looking forward to listening, learning, building meaningful relationships and creating experiences that bring individuals and families together across generations. I believe the heart of a community is the people who build it every day, and I’m excited for this new chapter and for everything we will create together.”
