Jay L. McCullar, Ph.D.

Program Officer

Dr. Jay L. McCullar, Ed.D., joined the Trellis Foundation in 2023 as a Program Officer. Dr. Jay is a distinguished educator, equity advocate, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from Texas State University, an M.L.A. in Humanities from St. Edward’s University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He previously served as a humanities and psychology professor and led the Greater Austin Area My Brother’s Keeper Scholars initiative, securing over $3 million to support more than 1,200 young men of color. In 2023, he created Louise’s Kids, a community initiative named in honor of his late grandmother, which provides school supplies and scholarships to students and families in Dallas, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Jay serves on the boards of LatinX Leaders Austin, Mainspring Schools, and Austin Voices for Education and Youth. His leadership has been recognized through honors such as the African American Leadership Institute Fellowship (Class of 2024), Forty Under Forty distinction, and induction into the Terrell ISD Hall of Honor in 2023.