Elise Dowell began her tenure as chief executive officer of the JCC Mid-Westchester in January 2022. Since then, she’s galvanized the community’s support for JCCMW and its myriad offerings, from the renowned and expanded JCCMW Nursery School to special-needs initiatives, the revival of adult programming, and Israel-focused and Jewish-related activities both at the JCC and throughout Westchester.
Prior to joining JCCMW, Ms. Dowell served as vice chancellor for Communications and External Affairs at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), where she guided the institution’s strategic communications, oversaw public affairs, and led the enrollment management operation. Her efforts amplified JTS’s donor development, communications, membership cultivation, and digital strategies.
Notably, Ms. Dowell’s first-ever job as a teenager was at a JCC in Connecticut.
“As a Westchester resident and a person whose own experience was formatively shaped by a vibrant JCC, I feel a deep, personal connection to the work being championed at this exemplary organization,” said Ms. Dowell. “JCC Mid-Westchester has been positively impacting lives for decades. I believe we are in a position to move from strength to strength as we take on new challenges while continuing to serve those who have made the JCC what it is today.”
Ms. Dowell received her BBA from Emory University and her MBA from Columbia Business School. She holds various leadership roles and board positions with organizations within the Westchester community. She lives in Larchmont with her husband and three children.