Rev. Joseph P. Parkes, S.J., serves as Chair of the Cristo Rey Network board. As one of the founders of Cristo Rey New York High School (CRNYHS) in 2004, he has served as President of this school in East Harlem since its opening. Under his leadership, 100% of CRNYHS graduates have earned college acceptances. Furthermore, 73% of the class of 2012 is attending a Selective, Highly Selective, or a Most Selective school (US News & World Report).
Fr. Parkes has more than 25 years of experience in education across a variety of school models. He has taught and held administrative roles at Ateneo de Manila High School in the Philippines, St. Peter’s Preparatory School in New Jersey, and Fordham Preparatory School in New York City. While Provincial of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Parkes helped to build and launch Loyola Jesuit College, a secondary school in Abuja, Nigeria. This range of experience informs his perspective on identifying the most effective innovations to impact the Cristo Rey educational model.
Earlier in his career, Fr. Parkes worked as Assistant to the Provincial and Associate Editor of America magazine. He is a Vice-Chair on the Georgetown University board and a member of the Fordham University and Saint Peter’s University boards. Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him Chairman of the New York City Campaign Finance Board. He is a native of Jersey City, and a graduate of St. Peter’s Prep. He holds degrees from Fordham University, the University of Wisconsin, and Woodstock College.