Jay earned a BA in Theater from Indiana University, and an MFA from UC Irvine, as well as completing the Professional Actor Training Program at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. Since then Jay has become an assistant professor of Theater at the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Additionally he has directed over 40 productions for regional and educational theater. He has also been certified by the National Society of Fight Choreographers, and has choreographed over 20 fights for numerous productions.