Jessica Castro is the Vice President of Programs and Operations at the Trefler Foundation, where she leads the implementation of the Foundation’s core programmatic priorities, including education, workforce development, and health equity. With 27 years at the Trefler Foundation, she brings deep institutional knowledge and seasoned operational leadership to advance the Foundation’s mission and strengthen its impact, overseeing all financial functions from accounting to grant payments while directing and coordinating the administrative systems that ensure effective operations.

Jessica is currently pursuing her doctorate at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. With sixteen years of experience in nonprofit program management and development, she has supported individuals facing barriers to self-sufficiency, including those navigating welfare dependence, limited work histories, and reentry after incarceration. She is known as a collaborative, values-driven leader with strong interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to build strategic partnerships with government agencies, corporations, and community stakeholders.