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Congregation of Holy Cross names University of Portland Provost among recipients of 2019 Spirit of Holy Cross Award

Awards and Rankings

December 13, 2019

photo of Tom GreeneThe Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, will award the Spirit of Holy Cross Award to retiring University of Portland Provost Dr. Thomas Greene. The recognition of Dr. Greene was among the five 2019 recipients announced over the weekend from the Congregation’s United States Province Office. Dr. Greene, who has served UP as an instructor, administrator, professor, and leader for more than 35 years, recently announced his plans to retire at the end of the current 2019-2020 academic year.      

The award is given annually to lay collaborators who faithfully serve the Province in the United States and abroad. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau to make God known, loved, and served through education, parish and mission settings.

"Dr. Greene is not only a remarkable collaborator, but also a wonderful friend of Holy Cross," says Holy Cross local superior, Rev. Charlie McCoy, C.S.C. “His faithful presence with his wife Shannon at our liturgies and celebratory dinners, especially on important community feast days, makes them more than colleagues, and more like genuine members of the Holy Cross family."

“In all that he does, Tom Greene lives out the mission of Holy Cross,” said Rev. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., President of the University of Portland. “His deep and abiding commitment to educating minds, hearts and hands has had a profound impact not only on the students he has taught directly in the classroom, but also the thousands of students who have been impacted by his long and successful administrative career at the University of Portland.  He ranks among our greatest lay collaborators in Holy Cross, and this honor is richly deserved.”

“My years of serving at the University have been very rewarding. There are so many wonderful memories of advancing the Holy Cross mission with students, staff, administration, faculty and the priests and brothers. The Congregation of Holy Cross has meant so much to me and my family and the award is a symbol of that great relationship. I am humbled and honored,” said Greene.

The honorees will be recognized in their local communities by the Holy Cross ministry for which they work during the month of January as part of the celebrations of Blessed Moreau's life. At that time, they will receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by the local superior that nominated them, and Rev. William M. Lies, C.S.C., Provincial Superior, on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

Regarded as a fierce supporter of the Catholic mission at UP, Dr. Greene joined the institution in 1983 as an Adjunct Instructor. Before becoming a full-time member of the school’s community in 2004, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public education. Among many other posts, he served as Principal of East Orient School in Gresham; Superintendent of the Orient School District; and Assistant Superintendent of the Beaverton and Gresham-Barlow School Districts. While at the University of Portland, he held leadership positions as Associate Dean of the School of Education (2004–07), Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (2007–12), Interim Dean of the School of Education (2009–10), and Interim Provost (2012–13) before being named the University Provost in 2013. A brilliant and dedicated teacher who is devoted to his students, Dr. Greene has taught courses every fall and spring semester since 1983 in addition to his significant administrative leadership duties.