Associate Spotlight: Spring 2025

Christine James has an unwavering passion for Catholic Dominican education and believes it is a place where everyone can succeed, inspired to confidently learn and lead through prayer, study, ministry, and a community of belonging. Christine was first introduced to the Dominican charism when her devout Catholic mother enrolled her at Lacordaire Academy, a sponsored work of the Caldwell Dominicans in Upper Montclair, NJ. Christine loves Lacordaire and the Dominican Sisters. They raised her as much as her parents did – including helping her when she went astray! Christine was a very good student and school came easy to her, but in fourth grade her grades started slipping. “I thought for sure my father, who was agnostic, wouldn’t care that I had detention for not memorizing the Memorare, but I also got in trouble at home because it was something I was assigned to do. My father had a great deal of respect for the Sisters.” Since then, the Memorare has become her favorite ‘go-to’ prayer. Christine formed a very special bond with Sr. Jeanne Catherine Sheridan, OP, (d. 2019) who helped “get me back on track – even if it did require a Saturday morning conference with both my parents to finally set me straight.” Fortunately, Christine resumed good grades after that, and it was to Sr. Jeanne that she committed to supporting Lacordaire as much as possible after she graduated high school. Christine and her parents often visited with Sr. Jeanne over the years, and Sr. Jeanne was with Christine and her father during her mother Veronica’s final hours of life in 2010.

Christine attended Villanova University and although Augustinian, it did share veritas in its motto. “I see now how many of my Dominican roots were reinforced at Villanova.” She pursued a bachelor’s and master’s in business administration. Christine spent 32 years in investment management leadership roles but always looked at her career as a means of supporting her real passion. “Eighteen years of Catholic school imbued in me a sense of how transformative it can be and instilled in me a commitment to give back to others.” In 2004, Christine became a trustee of Lacordaire Academy and, in 2009, she became their first lay board president, a position she still holds today. “My mother always thought I would become a teacher because I played the most elaborate games of school at home, and sometimes I wonder if she was right. My personal belief is that the greatest gift you can give a child is an education.”  

When she met her future husband, Nick, in 2017, their second date was attending a benefit event for Lacordaire where Nick sat with her father and the Sisters for proper vetting. Shortly after, Nick mentioned he was thinking of leaving his corporate career to teach. Christine knew the school was looking for a French teacher, and besides being French American, one of Nick’s degrees is in French. Today Nick is a certified French teacher, the World Languages Department Chair and found his purpose too. In June 2023, Christine and Nick married in the same chapel in the former convent at Lacordaire where she received her first communion. “My mentors and teachers, Sr. Luella Ramm, OP, and Sr. Patricia Tavis, OP, arranged for us to borrow kneelers from the Motherhouse for the ceremony.” The chapel was too small to house everyone, so the ceremony was live-streamed, but all the Council members and several Caldwell Dominicans who have inspired Christine and Nick were at the reception held in the school gym. Last summer Nick took the trip to Fanjeaux, France, to walk in the footsteps of St. Dominic. “I would have gone too, but I had just started graduate school to get a second master’s in educational leadership.” They plan to take the trip together soon.

In 2021, Christine became a Lay Dominican Associate and more actively involved in the Committee on Global Issues with the Caldwell Dominicans while volunteering in spiritual ministries with her parish and advisory councils with the archdiocese. She views her work in education as her primary way to “preach.” Christine believes Dominican Catholic schools truly embody Catholic social justice tenets. They are a place where every child can develop into their best selves to go forth and lead the next generation. “I must always be on a continuous journey to educate myself and recognize when my own history and experiences may bias my understanding.” As a Catholic school leader, committing to culturally responsive teaching is essential to developing ourselves and our students spiritually, academically, and socially. 

The opportunity to leverage Christine’s management and business experience, passion for faith-based education and leadership skills to promote Catholic education in the Dominican tradition is what motivates her. “Every student, no matter their background, should feel personally fulfilled and inspired by a Catholic education, to go forth and love one another, and make their own difference in the world.” In Christine’s vision of the future of Catholic Dominican schools, everyone including students, teachers, parents, administrators, trustees, alumni, and the surrounding community is on a continuous journey of understanding and learning to embrace differences and work together for a just society. She wants to be a transformational leader in preserving and promoting Catholic Dominican education for future generations.