Awards and Rankings
October 10, 2025
The Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers has honored Associate Vice President & Chief of Staff Evan Leadem with the University of Portland’s 2025 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, conferred upon lay collaborators in the U.S. and abroad who “make God known, loved, and served” in education, parish, and mission settings.
Announcing 14 Spirit of Holy Cross Awards for 2025 throughout the U.S. Province and the District of Chile- Perú, the Congregation of Holy Cross praised Leadem for the ways in which he embodies C.S.C. founder Blessed Basil Moreau’s zeal for education and the formation of minds and hearts.
“In addition to his professional gifts and abilities, Evan has been a generous and helpful presence to colleagues and to our Holy Cross community,” wrote the Congregation. “He is earnest in his professional duties, tireless in his contributions, and always a joy to be and work with.”
Leadem serves in the President’s Office, advancing strategic priorities and providing counsel and support to President Robert D. Kelly. He directs operational and governance matters relating to the University’s Board of Regents and teaches Legal Issues in Higher Education in UP’s Master of Arts in Higher Education program.
Beyond those official duties, it is Leadem’s genuine zest for all things Portland, Pilot, and purple that epitomize the “Spirit” in the Spirit of Holy Cross. He never misses a UP sporting event. He is a stalwart volunteer at countless student events like River Boat and Rock the Bluff. This spring, he accompanied UP students competing at the Electric Vehicle Grand Prix in Indiana.
“It is so gratifying to see the Congregation of Holy Cross honor Evan—a dedicated and faithful educator who cares so deeply about every facet of our mission to form the hearts and minds of our students,” said President Kelly. “No one cheers louder than Evan when our Pilot athletes win a big game, when a UP colleague is honored, or when our Pilots shine in his classroom. We are thrilled to take our turn saluting Evan for this well-deserved Spirit of Holy Cross Award.”
Prior to arriving on The Bluff in 2018, Leadem practiced civil litigation defense with the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. He also worked in the president’s office at his alma mater, Wake Forest University. He serves on the Board of Trustees for De La Salle North Catholic High School and was a 2023-24 selection of Leadership Portland, an education program for emerging leaders sponsored by the Portland Metro Chamber.
“Words fail to capture the depth of my gratitude for this honor,” said Leadem. “Serving as a lay collaborator to the Holy Cross priests and brothers here on The Bluff—past and present—is among the most profound blessings in life. Thus, to receive this award from Holy Cross religious means so very much to me.”
“The University of Portland is imprinted on my heart, and I will treat this honor as inspiration to serve our students and our Catholic, Holy Cross mission with even greater zeal.”
Leadem and his fellow Spirit of Holy Cross Award honorees will be recognized in January in their local communities as part of Congregation of Holy Cross celebrations of Blessed Moreau’s life.
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