I am honored to join Trellis Foundation as Vice President of Programs at a moment that feels both urgent and full of possibility.
For more than two decades, I have focused my work on improving student success. That commitment is both professional and deeply personal.
I was a first-generation college student, a working mom, and a low-income student. My path through higher education was not linear or easy. I balanced coursework with work, caregiving, and financial uncertainty. There were moments when continuing felt overwhelming, when the systems around me seemed difficult to navigate, and when the path forward was not always clear.
But I also experienced what is possible when the right supports are in place.
I encountered people who believed in me, who took the time to guide me, and who helped me see opportunities I could not yet see for myself. Those moments mattered. They made a difference not just in whether I stayed in school, but in what I believed was possible for my future.
That experience has stayed with me.
It shaped not only my own trajectory but also how I think about this work. I have seen firsthand that students bring determination, talent, and resilience. What often determines their success is whether the systems they encounter are designed to support them or unintentionally create additional barriers.
That understanding is what drew me to this work and continues to guide it today.
Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to work alongside institutions, organizations, and funders across the country, all committed to improving outcomes for students. I have worked with leaders who are deeply invested in student success and with teams who are working hard to improve advising, redesign programs, strengthen supports, and align their efforts with student needs.
Across all that work, one lesson stands out.
Sustainable change does not come from isolated programs or short-term initiatives. It comes from aligning strategy, practice, and people around a shared goal and staying committed to that work over time. It requires not only good ideas but coordinated effort, clear priorities, and the willingness to learn and adapt.
That is what makes this role at Trellis Foundation so special for me.
Across Texas, students are working hard to build better futures for themselves and their families. Many are navigating school alongside work, caregiving responsibilities, and financial pressures. Their determination is clear. What is less clear, and where our work must focus, is whether the systems designed to support them are working as well as they should.
At Trellis Foundation, that question sits at the center of everything we do.
What has stood out to me most in my early time here is the Foundation’s commitment to partnership. Trellis does not approach this work as a single actor trying to solve complex challenges alone. Instead, it works alongside colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, intermediaries, like-minded funders, and state leaders to invest in solutions that can influence change at scale.
That approach reflects how I believe this work must happen.
The challenges facing students today are not isolated. They are shaped by how institutions design programs, how advising and supports are delivered, how financial aid systems function, and how policies align with student needs. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated effort across the higher education ecosystem.
It also requires listening.
Throughout my career, I have learned that meaningful progress depends on understanding both the experiences of students and the realities institutions face. It requires asking hard questions, being willing to learn alongside partners, and adapting as we go.
At Trellis Foundation, we have an opportunity to deepen that approach.
Our grantmaking is not just about funding programs. It is about making strategic investments that help partners test new ideas, strengthen existing efforts, and contribute to broader systems change. It is about learning from that work and using those insights to inform what comes next.
In the months ahead, my focus will be on working closely with our Programs team and partners to build on this foundation. That includes strengthening our approach to grantmaking, deepening engagement across the state, and ensuring that our work is grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
I am grateful to be part of this work and to contribute to Trellis Foundation’s mission. I look forward to learning from our partners, supporting their efforts, and working together to expand opportunities for students across Texas.
About the Author
Dr. Robin Ellis serves as Vice President of Programs at Trellis Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy to advance postsecondary attainment and equitable outcomes for students across Texas. She works closely with the President and the Foundation team to shape program priorities, guide strategic investments, and support partnerships that strengthen policy, practice, and systems across the higher education ecosystem. Robin brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education and philanthropy. She previously held leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, where she led national initiatives that helped institutions redesign systems and implement evidence-based strategies to improve student success at scale. Her work focuses on translating research and data into practical approaches that improve outcomes, particularly for underserved students. She holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Policy.