Wendy McCulley

Big vision. Bold action. Building for what’s next.

Wendy McCulley is a systems builder and educational strategist driving student-focused change in Fresno and beyond.

“Everything I’ve done has led me here, and everything I do is for what’s next.”

– Wendy McCulley

Made For This – A personal look into Wendy’s journey and philosophy of leadership.

Meet Wendy

Wendy McCulley doesn’t just lead—she builds.

With roots in business and a heart for education, she creates new systems that move faster, work smarter, and keep students at the center. As the founder of The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students, Wendy is championing bold, tangible change across one of California’s largest school districts by offering a new model for what’s possible.

A Business Leader Transforming Education

Wendy didn’t step into a role—she created one. As the founder and leader of The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students, she built a fast-moving, impact-driven organization focused on access, equity, and results for 70,000 students.

Pillars of Change

The Basis of a Better System

Explore Wendy’s vision for systemic change and see how bold ideas become real results.

Trusted by leaders. Respected by peers.

“Wendy McCulley leads with purpose. A consummate professional, she prioritizes people over profit, makes decisions with integrity, and brings unmatched clarity, strategy, and brilliance to everything she does.”

Tomea Sippio-Smith, M.S. Ed., J.D., Director of the Coalition for Educational Excellence, Catalyst @ Penn GSE, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education

“One aspect of Wendy’s exemplary leadership is her ability to conceptualize big ideas and turn them into concrete reality. Wendy took my conceptual vision and created a brick-and-mortar organization to meet our kids’ needs. Our Foundation is the real deal: style and substance.”

Bob Nelson, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, Fresno State University, Former Superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District

“Wendy McCulley is a leader to watch. She is an impactful executive that cares deeply about community and service leadership, investing her energy, hope, and innovative mindset into building things that did not exist before—all with unwavering ethics.”

Cristina Gallegos, CEO of Skylarx, Author, Researcher, Explorer

“Wendy is a visionary leader who sees possibilities where others see limits. She strategically charts paths that turn bold ideas into lasting impact.”

Tonisha Hargrove-Williams, Executive Officer Chief Academic Office at Fresno Unified

“Wendy believes the greatest leaders of tomorrow are the students too often underestimated today. Her deep passion for student success, relentless determination to offer the very best to our youth, and steady leadership are not only transforming lives—they’re paving a powerful path forward.”

Joseph Aquino, First Foundation Intern, Fresno State Student

Systemic Redesign

Adopting a Different Approach

Wendy doesn’t just work within the system—she builds alongside it. Her approach to education reform is rooted in strategic clarity and real-time impact. Rather than wait for permission or navigate endless bureaucracy, she creates a parallel path—moving faster, listening deeper, and proving what’s possible through bold, student-centered solutions.

At the heart of her systemic redesign strategy is a belief that education can and should work better. This isn’t theory. It’s action. And it’s how she’s proving that real change doesn’t have to take decades—it can start now.

Get in Touch

The Voice Behind the Vision

Ready to connect or collaborate? Wendy is available for speaking engagements, panels, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives that center students and drive systems forward.