During their high school years, Blue Jays are formed into men of faith and men for others in Jesuit’s halls. An uncommon commitment to rigor and an emphasis on personal responsibility equip students to relentlessly pursue God’s greater glory not for five years but “through all the days of life.”

The value of a Jesuit education is reflected in the transformed lives of its alumni, and Jesuit is proud to announce James Linn ’06 as its next alumni director, who will be responsible for connecting alumni with one another and with the living mission of the school today.

Linn has spent the past five years as a faculty member in the social studies department, having delivered a wealth of academic and practical experience to his students. For several years, he has served as the alumni class captain for his Class of 2006.

“I am honored for the opportunity to serve my alma mater in this new way,” said Linn. “Transitioning from the classroom to alumni relations is more a matter of emphasis than a change in direction. In the classroom, the emphasis is on directly shaping Blue Jays’ minds, but I look forward to the opportunity to cultivate and nurture lasting connections with alumni who know how important Jesuit has been in their lives.”

“The admirable and unparalleled commitment of Jesuit’s alumni sets the standard for schools around the nation,” said Christian Bautista ’06, Jesuit’s director of institutional advancement. “The success of Jesuit’s mission relies on that commitment, and I am thrilled that James will be leading Jesuit’s efforts to keep our alumni enthusiastically engaged with today’s teachers, coaches, and students.”

Before joining the faculty at Jesuit, Linn served as a curator at The National World War II Museum in New Orleans where he focused on artifact donation, battlefield tours in Europe and the Pacific, and exhibit design. In addition to teaching various social studies courses—including the relatively new AP World History senior elective—he has served as co-moderator of student council.

Linn follows outgoing alumni director Michael Prados ’83, who himself has continued to assist with reunion planning while returning to the classroom to teach fine arts survey. Linn and Prados will collaborate to ensure a seamless transition.

On behalf of Fr. John Brown, S.J., Jesuit’s president, finalists were identified from a field of over 50 candidates by four volunteers of different generations and perspectives: Mat Grau ’68, former alumni director and longtime teacher and administrator; James Yockey ’95, a current Jesuit parent and member of Jesuit’s National Advisory Board; Jean Paul Perrilliat ’03, a member of Jesuit’s advancement team; and Jamie Roy, another member of Jesuit’s advancement team and the mother of Blue Jay alumni.

After his own graduation from Jesuit in 2006, Linn attended the University of New Orleans where he earned a bachelor of arts in history with a concentration in political science. He later earned a master’s degree in public history with a focus on military history from UNO in 2016. Linn also spent years gaining experience in public service, political campaign administration, and volunteer management.

Linn’s personal training and interest in military history led him to the WWII museum, but his love for his alma mater and passion for education led him back to Carrollton & Banks in 2020. Both his father, James Linn III ’79, and his grandfather, James Linn, Jr. ’59, graduated from Jesuit. He is married to Jennifer Terranova Linn, who teaches second grade at St. Pius X. They have two children.

“The same Jesuit education that I received,” Linn added, “is thriving today in our halls and classrooms. It’s important to me to help alumni stay engaged with and invested in Jesuit’s legacy—a legacy that they have helped create.”