Jeff Watkins

Executive Vice President
Inclusive Communities

jwatkins@ymcahouston.org

Jeff, as the Executive Vice President for Inclusive Community, is tasked with ensuring that our YMCA is open, welcoming and relevant to all, especially vulnerable and marginalized portions of our community.

He oversees the YMCA’s work and programs in the areas of refugee resettlement, employment services, educational services, services for victims of human trafficking and immigration legal services, as well as providing leadership and direction for the YMCA’s global initiatives and partnerships. Previously, Jeff served as Executive Director of YMCA International Services, a position he held for over 18 years. Prior to his career with the YMCA, he was the Operations Director for Serve Houston Youth Corps, an AmeriCorps funded program providing community-based services by engaging full-time young adults in year-long volunteer assignments in low-income/immigrant impacted communities.

Jeff holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Houston – Central Campus and a M.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii with a concentration in Southeast Asia. He is fluent in Vietnamese.