Faustino M. Cruz
Dean Cruz is on a leave of absence until June 30, 2023; Francis McAloon, S.J. will be serving as acting dean until his return.

Faustino M. Cruz, S.M., a teaching scholar, pastoral leader, and administrator, began his new role as dean of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GRE) on July 1, 2017.
Tito previously served as associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor of practical theology and leadership in the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University. With more than 25 years of experience in teaching and mentoring, he has also helped train pastoral ministers, therapists, religious educators, and other leaders from culturally diverse ecumenical and interreligious backgrounds for practices within and beyond their communities. His scholarly work includes multiple book chapters, journal articles, encyclopedia entries, and other collaborative publications on the intersection of theology, immigration, and educational leadership.
“I am deeply committed to leading a community of teacher-scholar-practitioners that passionately educates our students for solidarity, service, and justice,” he said.
Before his work at Seattle University, Cruz was executive vice president and academic dean of the Franciscan School of Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, where he was on the faculty for 11 years. He is president of the International Academy of Practical Theology, a panel expert for Foundation Flanders Belgium, and a committee member of the United Board for Christian Education in Asia.
Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Cruz migrated to the United States in 1982. He was ordained a priest of the U.S. Province of the Society of Mary (Marists) in 1988 and spent more than three decades ministering in migrant and refugee communities in the United States at parish, diocesan, and national levels.
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- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Interdisciplinary Doctorate in Theology and Education. Boston College, Chesnut Hill, MA (2001).
- Master of Arts (M.A.) Biblical Studies. Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA (1988).
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, CA (1986).
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Tourism and Travel Services Management. University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City (1982).
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Pastoral care of migrants and refugees; immigration and ethnic studies; intercultural education; sociological study of congregations; participatory action research; community psychology; transformational leadership; human development; religious education; practical theology; and U.S. contextual theologies—Asian American and Latino.
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Book Chapters and Articles
“Practice What We Teach: Academic Leadership in Times of Crisis.” International Journal of Practical Theology ISSN: 1612-9768, forthcoming.
“Ginhawa: In Pursuit of Immigrant Life in Abundance.” In Catholicism in Migration and Diaspora: Cross-border Filipino Perspectives. Studies in World Christianity and Interreligious Relations Series, edited by Gemma Talud Cruz. London: Routledge. Forthcoming.
“Embodied Leadership: Resisting Workplace Bullying in U.S. Higher Education.” In International Handbook of Practical Theology, edited by Birgit Weyel, Wilhelm Gräb, Emmanuel Lartey, and Cas Wepener. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter, April 2022.
"Theological Education as Praxis: Pastoral and Practical Theology in a Globalized World." In Louvain Studies 42 (2019): 515-529.
“Immigrant Faith Communities as Interpreters.” In The Wiley-Blackwell Reader in Practical Theology, edited by Bonnie Miller-McLemore. Oxford; San Francisco: John Wiley and Sons, 2019.
“The Tension between Scholarship and Service.” In Conundrums in Practical Theology, edited by Bonnie McLemore and Joyce Ann Mercer. Leiden: Brill, 2016.
“Touch it! Touch it! Reframing Teaching and Learning through James Turrell’s Acton.” Teaching Theology and Religion Vol 17:4 (October 2014): 348-349.
“Firipinjin Ijuuroudousha to Beikoku ni okeru Jinshin Torihiki” (Filipino Labor Migration and Human Trafficking in the United States). Migrants Network, No. 171 (July 2014): 12-13.
“Formal and Informal Leadership in the US Contest: Catholic Multicultural Trends.” In Religious Leadership: A Reference Handbook, vol. 1, edited by Sharon Henderson Callahan, 56-64. Sage Reference Series on Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2013.
“Locating Multiple Identities and Belonging in Relatedness: Toward Intercultural Leadership.” In C(H)AOS Theory: Reflections of Chief Academic Officers in Theological Education, edited by Bruce Birch and Kathleen Billman, 208-220. Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids, MI and Cambridge, UK: Eerdmans Publishing House, 2011.
“Religion, Ethnicity, and Immigration in the United States: Engaging Critically with the U.S. Catholic Church’s Pastoral Response.” The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies 26 (2008): 1-23. Institute of Asian Cultures at Sophia University: Tokyo, Japan.
“Immigrant Faith Communities as Interpreters: Educating for Participatory Action.” New Theology Review 21:4 (November 2008): 27-37.
“Ministry for a Multicultural Church and Society.” Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry vol. 27 (2007): 43-60.
Seelsorgerischer Dienst für eine mulitkulturelle Kirche und Gessellschaft [Ministry for a Multicultural Church and Society] Nachgefragt 07 Magazine of the Catholic Student Center, University of Münster, Germany.
“To Live Church More Authentically: Ministry with Asian and Pacific Catholics in the United States.” Pastoral Music 27:4 (April-May 2003); in consultation with Ella Rosanna.
“To Live Fully in the Image and Likeness of God.” Catechetical Sunday 1999, Department of Education, United States Catholic Conference.
Encyclopedia Entries
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Alemany, Joseph Sadoc.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Catholic Foreign Mission Society (Maryknolls).” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans).” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Lyons, Lorenzo.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Marriage Encounter.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Saint Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Satolli, Francesco.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Society of Mary (Marists).” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Verot, Augustin Marcellin.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Warde, Mary Frances Xavier.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2016).
Encyclopedia of Christian Education, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Dialogue Education.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2015).
Encyclopedia of Christian Education, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Transformational Leadership.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2015).
Encyclopedia of Christian Education, edited by George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport, s.v. “Alfonso Nebreda, SJ.” New York: Rowman and Littlefield, (2015).
Contact Information
441 East Fordham Road
Keating Hall 303
Bronx, NY 10458