Rachel Nelson holds two bachelor's degrees and a master's in social work from the University of Illinois. She has been involved in Jewish education since 1988, where she became an education specialist for educating students with learning disabilities. She has been involved with curriculum development and implementation and also student recruitment. Rachel worked at Keshet in Chicago for six years, as the Judaic Coordinator for four sites, where she developed a life cycle program, prepared children for their bar or bat mitzvoth, and developed strategies for familial growth. Rachel started as a Yeshiva Elementary School substitute teacher. She was named Assistant Director and developed the high school-vocational program for Keshet. Rachel also has extensive social work experience in crisis intervention and domestic violence.