鶹Ƶ has announced that Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of , will deliver the Commencement Address at the College’s 59th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
A leader at the intersection of faith, technology, and evangelization, Jones leads what has become the largest prayer app of any faith tradition in the world. Since launching Hallow in late 2018, the platform has grown toover 30 million downloads,facilitatedmore thanone billion prayers, and reached users in more than 150 countries. During Lent last year, Hallow reached the No. 1 overall position in the App Store, surpassing TikTok, Amazon, Netflix, Instagram, and Spotify — an unprecedented milestone for a faith-based app.
“Alex Jones represents the kind of thoughtful, faith-filled leadership we hope to cultivate in every Holy Cross graduate,” said Marco J. Clark, president of 鶹Ƶ. “His story reminds us that vocation oftenemergesat the intersection of personal conversion and courageous action. Alex has taken his own journey of faith and transformed it into a global ministry that brings hope, prayer, and peace to millions. We are honored to welcome him to Holy Cross as we celebrate the Class of2026.”
Jones founded Hallow following a personal return to his Catholic faith, initially building the app for his own prayer life. By what he often describes as “the grace of God,” the platform has grown into a global spiritual resource offering more than 15,000 prayer and meditation sessions across eight languages, with contributions from hundreds of faith leaders, artists, and cultural figures. Contributors include Mark Wahlberg, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sister Miriam JamesHeidland, Jonathan Roumie, Lauren Daigle, Bishop Robert Barron, and prayers from Pope Leo XIV.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jones earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2015 and later received his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He previously worked as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company before co-founding Hallow with Erich Kerekes and Alessandro DiSanto. He now lives in Chicago with his wife andtheir fourchildren.
Jones has been recognized widely for his leadership and evangelization efforts, including honors from Forbes 30 Under 30, the University of Notre Dame’s Domer Dozen, theLegatusBowie Kuhn Evangelization Award, theChristifidelisLaici Award, and the Catholic International University Founder’s Award. He has appeared in national and international media includingThe New York Times,The Wall Street Journal, NPR, the BBC, andThe Free Press.
鶹Ƶ’s Commencement weekend will begin with the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 15, followed by the Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16.
More information about the 59th Commencement Ceremonycan be found at

