17 board members
The board
Priests, sisters, professors, retired professionals and advocates across the diaspora, steering our mission and our support for communities across Africa.
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Stan Chu Ilo
Coordinating Servant, PACTPAN
Stan Chu Ilo is a Catholic priest from Awgu diocese, Nigeria, and Research Professor of World Christianity, African Studies and Global Health at the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University in Chicago. He is also an Honorary Professor of Religion and Theology at Durham University, England, and a Visiting Research Scholar at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Nigeria.
He is the Coordinating Servant of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN), and winner of the 2017 Afro-Global Award for Global Leadership Impact for founding the Canadian Samaritans for Africa, which implemented more than 42 women's empowerment and community support projects in 6 African countries.
He is a Board Member of Concilium, International Journal of Theology, serves on the senior advisory board of the Templeton Religious Trust grant project on global spiritual formation, and is the principal convener of the Pan-African Catholic Congress. He is the author or editor of 17 books, including Where is God in Africa? A Theology of Suffering and Smiling (Orbis Books, 2025).
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Alex G. Ojacor
Pastoral care professional
Experienced, dynamic and enthusiastic pastoral care professional with the ability to work in multicultural and multi-faith environments.
Skilled in developing awareness of the theological and psycho-social concerns of persons in crisis. Has over ten years' experience as a university lecturer in Africa and the United States in philosophy, religion, sociology and research methods.
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Florence Onubogu
Retired educator and advocate
Florence Onubogu, Ph.D., is a retired educator of German language and literature. She served as president of the Igbo Catholic Women Organization in Chicago, during which she increased membership by 300%.
She worked for many years at the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna, Austria. A lifelong polyglot, she is passionate about improving the lives of people experiencing poverty.
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Sr. Ebere Bosco Amakwe
Lecturer, Seton Hall University
Sister Ebere Bosco Amakwe lectures in Christianity and Culture in Dialogue at Seton Hall University, New Jersey. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication and Sociology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, an MA in Communication from the Pontifical Salesian University and a BA in Missionary Spirituality from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.
In 2017 she earned an MA in Post-Conflict State Reconstruction and a Graduate Certificate in United Nations Studies from the Seton Hall School of Diplomacy and International Relations. Her focus is Africa, especially women, media, Church and society.
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Meghan J. Clark
Professor, St. John's University
Meghan J. Clark, Ph.D., is an associate professor of moral theology at St John's University (NY), where she teaches moral theology and Catholic social thought.
In 2015 she was a Fulbright Scholar at the Hekima Institute for Peace Studies and International Relations in Nairobi, Kenya, and has done fieldwork on human rights and solidarity in Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
She is the author of The Vision of Catholic Social Thought: the Virtue of Solidarity and the Praxis of Human Rights (Fortress Press, 2014) and co-editor of Public Theology and the Global Common Good (Orbis, 2016), both awarded first place by the Catholic Press Association. She is a columnist for US Catholic and serves as a faculty expert for the Holy See's Mission to the United Nations.
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Evelyn Dumfeh
Advocate for equity and community engagement
Evelyn Dumfeh brings her passion for equity, advocacy and community empowerment to the board. With over 14 years in real estate and a Master's in Social Work underway at Loyola University Chicago, she blends practical expertise with a deep commitment to social justice.
A mother of five and an active community member, Evelyn is invested in initiatives that foster civic engagement, amplify underrepresented voices and help families thrive.
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Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, O.P.
Prioress General, Dominican Sisters of Springfield
Sr. M. Paul McCaughey is a Dominican Sister of Springfield, Illinois, and serves as Prioress General and President of the Board for the community's sponsored ministries.
She previously coordinated the Catholic Educational Leadership Program at DePaul University and served for almost seven years as Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, after 25 years as a Catholic secondary school principal. She is the author of Grace and Guts: Practical Prayers for School Leaders.
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Pamela Matambanadzo
Treasurer, Pope Francis Center Chicago
Pam is a founding member of the Pope Francis Center Chicago, where she serves as treasurer and oversees day-to-day operations. She is deeply involved with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
She serves as International Territorial Vice President for America 1 within the Society's global organisation, representing the United States, Canada and the English-speaking Caribbean, and sits on the SVDP USA Voice of the Poor National Committee.
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Janet Nold
Retired advanced practice nurse
Janet Nold is a retired Advanced Practice Nurse whose expertise is pain management and end-of-life care. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul and Beds Plus, serving people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Chicago.
Being a board member of PACTPAN brings Janet closer to her African neighbours.
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Rev. Fr. Ruffino Ezama, MCCJ
Provincial Superior, Comboni Missionaries
Fr. Ruffino Ezama, PhD, is the Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries North American Province. Born in Uganda and ordained in 1994, he has worked in the United States for 15 years and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Sr. Henry Nwabueze
Accountant and board treasurer
Sr. Henry Nwabueze was born and raised in Nigeria and belongs to the Daughters of Divine Love. She has experience in not-for-profit accounting, tax accounting, fundraising and tutoring, and moved to Chicago 23 years ago.
She holds a Bachelor's in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, and works as Senior Accountant at Ancona School.
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Margaret Mary Moore
Social worker and Catholic theologian
Margaret Mary Moore is a social worker and Catholic theologian from St. Louis. She holds a Master's in Social Work from Columbia University and worked at the UN, the Department of Human Services and the Board of Education.
She later earned an MA in Spirituality at St. Louis University and an STB and STL at the Catholic University of Louvain. From 1986 to 2001 she lived in Rome, and in the U.S. she co-founded the National Association for Lay Ministry and the Theology and Life Institute.
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Tanya Ball
Restorative justice practitioner, board secretary
After 35 years as a Casualty Claims Specialist, Tanya left the corporate world to pursue restorative justice, leading Affinity Circles and Peace Circles focused on racial healing for high school and college students.
She serves on the Social Justice Commission at St. Simon of Cyrene Parish in Chicago and as Board Secretary for Friends of PACTPAN. She is also the proprietor and baker of Wittl' Pies, Inc.
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Rev. Fr. Larry Dowling
Pastor, St. Simon of Cyrene Parish
Fr. Larry Dowling, ordained in 1991, has served for 17 years as pastor of St. Simon of Cyrene Parish, a predominantly African American parish on Chicago's west side.
He helped establish the Encompassing Center, a free mental health centre for the West Side, moderates the 150-member Priests for Justice for Immigrants, and serves on the boards of ARISE Chicago and the Tolton Black Scholars Advisory Board at Catholic Theological Union.
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David O'Neill
Legal counsel
David O'Neill serves as Legal Counsel to the Friends of PACTPAN board.
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Mary Armstrong
Engineering and strategic operations leader
An engineering and strategic operations leader with over three decades at General Motors, spanning vehicle engineering, organisational leadership and executive support.
A DFSS Black Belt certified engineer and U.S. patent holder, she is a strong advocate for mentorship, diversity and integrity-driven leadership.
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Sr. Juli de Tarnowsky, CSJ
Retired teacher and coach
A retired elementary school teacher and coach from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and El Paso, Sr. Juli later ministered at St. Joseph Press in LaGrange Park and at an animal rescue in West Chicago.
"If I chose a symbol to represent my life, a dandelion comes to mind: it symbolises humility, giving without receiving, and holds the mysteries of the universe, seen and unseen."
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