A Letter from Fr. Sirico: Introducing Ali Ghaffari as First Executive Director of JHNI
- Isabella Maciejewski
- Jan 30
- 2 min read
It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce Ali Ghaffari as the first Executive Director of the growing St. John Henry Newman Institute (JHNI).
Ali’s leadership track record, focus on integrating faith and learning, and his dedication to forming disciples of Christ, align perfectly with the mission of JHNI.
A twenty-year Navy veteran and combat-experienced leader, Ali honed his skills by teaching leadership to students and faculty at the United States Naval Academy, retiring in 2021. A convert to the Catholic faith through reading the classics, Ali became frustrated with the secular, often "woke" agendas in today’s education system which so often fosters confusion and leads children away from God. He desired to provide his children with an education that would form a strong appreciation and love of their Catholic faith while thoroughly preparing them for their vocation in life. Seeking a better path for his family, he discovered the transformative power of classical Catholic education—one rooted in the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness. This inspired him to found Divine Mercy Academy in 2019, a K-8 school grounded in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Under Ali’s leadership, the Academy flourished, growing to nearly 150 students and 30 faculty and staff in that span of five years. His vision, exemplary work ethic, and steadfast faith have been key to the school's success.
Ali brings a convert’s fire for the Catholic faith, a strong commitment to classical education, and a strong desire to renew our Church and nation. His leadership will guide the Institute in its mission to accelerate the renewal of Catholic education. Ali’s proven leadership track record, passion for Catholic education, and unwavering commitment to truth and virtue make him the ideal person to lead JHNI.
With Ali’s leadership, JHNI will build a renaissance in classical Catholic education through:
Convening the most important players in the Catholic educational renewal movement across the country to gather and align resources.
Identifying gaps and opportunities to accelerate the movement and actioning on them.
Using this collection of resources to spread and nurture model schools around the globe.
We are excited and grateful to have Ali as our first Executive Director and look forward to working alongside him on the continued growth and success of the St. John Henry Newman Institute. Please join me in welcoming Ali to this important role!
For more about Ali, his conversion and Divine Mercy Academy, please view the links below:
Thank you for your prayers and support of this endeavor.
Fr. Robert A. Sirico
Founder
