Fr. Parkes has over 30 years of experience in teaching, administration and supervisory roles in secondary education in the Philippines, Micronesia, Nigeria and the United States. He has been President of Cristo Rey New York high School (CRNYHS) since it opened in 2004. The school serves only students from low-income families. It employs a unique Corporate Work Study Program in which each student works one day a week at major companies, hospitals and not-for-profits, earning 45% of the operating cost of the school. Of the 94 graduates in the class of 2014, 99% are immediately enrolled in college, with 76% of the class in private, four-year colleges.

Transforming Urban Cardiovascular Health
At the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit, leaders from across sectors gathered to address one of the most pressing global health challenges: cardiovascular disease in rapidly growing urban environments. In partnership with

