Jay received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1984.  He went on to study theology and earned a Th.M. degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1989.  He completed his Ph.D. at Southwestern in Educational Ministries with an emphasis in youth ministry in 2003.

Jay began teaching at Dallas Theological Seminary as an Adjunct Professor in 1997. Promoted to Assistant Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1998, he assumed full-time faculty responsibilities and has continued to serve in that capacity for the last eight years. He supervises the youth ministry track in the Christian Education department and teaches the courses related to youth ministry training. He also serves as faculty advisor to students preparing for youth ministry careers.