Faustino “Tito” M. Cruz, M.Div., Ph.D. is a teaching scholar, pastoral leader, and administrator. He began his 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 over 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, dean Cruz migrated to the United States in 1982. He was ordained a Marist priest in 1988 and spent more than three decades ministering in migrant and refugee communities in the United States at parish, diocesan, and national levels. On January 1, 2021, he joined the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Faustino “Tito” M. Cruz, M.Div., Ph.D. is a teaching scholar, pastoral leader, and administrator. He began his 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 over 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, dean Cruz migrated to the United States in 1982. He was ordained a Marist priest in 1988 and spent more than three decades ministering in migrant and refugee communities in the United States at parish, diocesan, and national levels. On January 1, 2021, he joined the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
