Originally from Dallas, Texas, Jay transferred to the University of New Mexico in 2021 and earned his BA in Political Science with a minor in Economics in 2023.

Shortly after graduating, he joined UNM’s Political Science Department as its Academic Coordinator, where firsthand experience with the challenges of affordability, accessibility, and bureaucratic complexity in higher education has shaped his interest in improving outcomes in education and social policy through research-driven solutions.

In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking in the Sandia foothills, and spending time with friends and family.