Executive Director

Jessica Solis is an accomplished nonprofit and human services bilingual professional with more than a decade of progressive experience in organizational leadership. Her professional experience includes work with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, The Office of Refugee Resettlement, federal government contractors. and community-based services within the affordable housing sector.

These experiences have helped her develop a diverse skill set that includes program development, operational strategy, staff leadership, regulatory compliance, data and process analysis, crisis intervention, and community engagement. She has managed complex programs and cases, supervised and developed teams, improved organizational processes, coordinated with multidisciplinary partners, and maintained high standards of program quality and service delivery.

Today, as Executive Director of The McGowan Foundation, Jessica brings together her educational background, professional experience, and firsthand work within Houston’s historic Fifth Ward. She is passionate about empowering communities by creating opportunities, connecting families with valuable resources, and helping individuals build stronger, healthier, and more financially secure futures.

Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Linguistics from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is also currently earning her Grant Writing Certificate from San Diego State University, further strengthening her ability to support the Foundation’s growth, sustainability, and long-term community impact. She is licensed with the State of Texas and has her Property and Causality license.

Outside of her professional work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her 2 children, riding her bike, traveling to foreign countries, listening to jazz, and reading books.