About Dr. Jai Ulrich

Mental Hygienist • Educator • Artist • Advocate

Welcome. I’m Dr. Jaimis “Jai” Ulrich—an Indigenous Woman of Color, a mental hygienist, and a weaver of worlds where healing, creativity, and justice intersect. My work exists at the crossroads of ancestral wisdom, academic rigor, and personal reclamation.

At my core, I help people—especially those from historically marginalized communities—feel safe in their bodies, clear in their minds, and confident in their power. Whether I’m leading a workshop on ethical AI, guiding someone through inner child healing, or creating handcrafted jewelry under SUNdaes and MOONpies, everything I do is about liberation—mental, emotional, spiritual, and systemic.

Pathway to Empowerment with Jai

In 2020, I founded Pathway to Empowerment, a practice rooted in trauma-informed coaching, inner child work, and cultural reconnection. What began as a one-woman practice has grown into a movement—one that I envision evolving into a nonprofit to make healing accessible to more communities who’ve been excluded or harmed by traditional systems of care.

I call myself a mental hygienist—not just because I help people clear out the mental buildup of trauma, stress, and internalized oppression, but because I believe mental clarity is a daily practice of liberation. Like brushing your teeth or washing your hands, you deserve tools that help you reset and stay resilient. And I teach you how to do it for yourself.

Scholarship in Service of Liberation

In 2023, I earned my Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership, graduating at the top of my class. My dissertation, Resisting Internalized Oppression: Hypnotherapy as a Liberatory Praxis by and for Women of Color in Education, is both academic and personal. It reclaims healing as a form of resistance and repositions hypnosis—often misunderstood—as a tool of empowerment.

Education has been a radical act in my life. I’ve gone from a “non-traditional” student to a leader shaping professional development for thousands of local government officials as the Associate Director at the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). I’ve redefined what it means to be both a healer and a systems-level educator.

The Music Still Moves Me

Before all this, I was a touring musician. Music was my first language of freedom. With my band, Crossed Keys, I traveled across the U.S. and Europe—singing, writing, performing, and healing in my own way. We were crowned “Best Band in California” by Emergenza and had the honor of representing Los Angeles in Germany and performing at SXSW in Austin. Though the stage looks different now, my voice remains a central instrument in all I do.

Love, Loss, and Legacy

Much of my path was shaped by caring for my Grandma Lupe during her battle with Stage IV lung cancer. It was in her kitchen that I learned the power of prayer, the strength of women, and the beauty of presence. It was also her wish that led me back to academia—and it’s her spirit that continues to guide my work today.

Who I Am Today

I am a scholar and a spiritual guide. A craftswoman and a coach. A survivor and a strategist. I’ve lived many lives—barista, bandleader, academic, advocate—and each chapter has prepared me to meet you here.

So whether you're here to unlearn internalized oppression, to reconnect with your inner child, to integrate AI without losing your humanity, or to find a handmade piece that reminds you of your magic—welcome. You’ve found a place where healing is sacred, creativity is strategy, and transformation is non-negotiable.

This is Pathway to Empowerment. Let’s go, together.