2026 Th.M. Graduates, pictured from left: Regina Jones, Alicia Gray and Daniel Okafor (photo by Irving Johnson, III)

Xavier University of Louisiana’s Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) awarded Master of Theology (Th.M.) degrees to three graduates during its annual Commencement exercises on July 17, 2026.

Alicia Ann Gray, Regina “Regi” Jones and Father Daniel Chinedu Okafor completed the Institute’s graduate theology program, which prepares lay leaders, religious and clergy for culturally responsive ministry and leadership within Black Catholic communities and beyond.

Jones delivered remarks on behalf of the graduating class. The Commencement address was delivered by Dr. Craig A. Ford Jr., an IBCS professor and professor of ethics at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta.

Alicia Ann Gray

Alicia Ann Gray is an educator and lifelong learner whose work focuses on early childhood development and spiritual education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Southern University at New Orleans.

With a commitment to advocacy and a deep appreciation for nature, Gray has dedicated her career to the care, protection, and development of young children. Her educational philosophy — “Take a tiny hand, touch a mind, and open a heart” — reflects an approach that combines academic expertise with nurturing and community engagement.

Gray is a parishioner and choir member at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in New Orleans. Her Th.M. research and practicum, “The Advent of Afrocentric Art in the Catholic Church: A Reflection of the People of God Made in His Image: Why Does Representation Matter?” examines the importance of representation and Afrocentric sacred art within Catholic spaces.

Regina “Regi” Jones

Regina “Regi” Jones is a garden educator whose work explores the intersection of garden-based learning, academic instruction, community, and justice. Jones earned an undergraduate degree from Chowan University and began their journey in garden education in New Orleans at Okra Abbey, where they experienced how food and

gardening can create relationships, encourage dialogue, and connect people across cultures.

In their current work, Jones supports adults in integrating garden-based education into academic curricula. Through training, curriculum development, and mentorship, they help educators and community leaders transform gardens into dynamic, interdisciplinary learning environments.

Jones’s Th.M. research and practicum, “Singing Our Stories: Exploring the Spiritual and Cultural Power of Negro Spirituals in Contemporary Communal Life,” examines the enduring spiritual and cultural significance of Negro spirituals and their role in contemporary communities.

Father Daniel Chinedu Okafor

Father Daniel Chinedu Okafor is a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and serves as pastor of St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church in Abita Springs and St. Michael Mission in Bush, Louisiana. He previously served as parochial vicar of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in New Orleans and St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington.

A native of Anambra State, Nigeria, Father Okafor holds a Master of Science in Health Research Ethics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and a Master of Arts from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he serves as treasurer of the African Conference of Catholic Clergy and Religious in the United States (ACCCRUS).

His scholarly interests include Sacred Scripture, Catholic theology, Black Catholic spirituality and the integration of faith into everyday life. His Th.M. research and practicum, “The Quest for Afrocentric Biblical Interpretation: Practices and Prospects,” explores approaches to biblical interpretation grounded in African and African diasporic perspectives.

The IBCS Master of Theology program is structured as an intensive, multi-year course of graduate study designed to accommodate clergy, religious, lay ministers, and other professionals actively serving their communities. Students gather at Xavier during the Institute’s annual summer session for concentrated theological study, formation and community, while continuing research, ministry and practicum work connected to their degree programs. Because students progress through the program over multiple years and complete individualized research and practicum requirements, each commencement represents the culmination of a sustained course of study rather than a traditional single-year graduating cohort.