James Okafor

Rev. James Okafor, Ed.D., serves as a Quarterly Lecturer in the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries within the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic work integrates Catholic theological scholarship with practical ministry formation, focusing on catechetical leadership across parish and school contexts through specialized graduate instruction and research.

His educational foundation includes:

• BA in Philosophy and Theology from Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria
• M.A. in Catechetics from Santa Clara University
• Doctorate in Catholic Educational Leadership from University of San Francisco

Rev. Okafor's research program investigates faith formation methodologies with particular attention to cultural adaptation in religious education. He examines catechetical practices across diverse settings, emphasizing the spiritual development of catechists and Catholic school teachers. His scholarship addresses systemic challenges in maintaining theological integrity within contemporary educational environments, as demonstrated by his Nigeria-focused case study on lay educators in Catholic secondary schools.

His publication record reveals sustained engagement with pastoral formation topics over a decade, evolving from personal spiritual guidance frameworks to institutional leadership analysis. Both works share a practitioner-oriented approach designed to empower ministry professionals through actionable theological reflection grounded in real-world contexts.

Rev. Okafor teaches foundational courses including CATE 220 (Foundations and Process of Catechesis), CATE 222 (Catechesis and Culture), and CATE 224 (Transformative Catechesis). These courses form the graduate curriculum core, integrating theological frameworks with practical ministry applications across cultural contexts.

Information regarding current student advising responsibilities, research grants, laboratory affiliations, or scientific awards was not documented in the available materials.