College Officials Visit Site of New England Campus

As news was breaking today about Thomas Aquinas College’s forthcoming New England campus, President Michael F. McLean and Vice President Paul J. O’Reilly visited the town of Northfield, Massachusetts, site of the beautiful property. There they met with Northfield’s Board of Selectmen as well as officials from the National Christian Foundation (NCF), including Emmitt Mitchell, founder of the NCF’s Heartland Board of Directors.

“We looked carefully at the College’s Board of Directors and its leadership in the areas of management, financial strength, and stability,” said Mr. Mitchell of the NCF’s decision to award the campus to Thomas Aquinas College. “We were very conscious of the College’s heritage and reputation,” he added, noting that these qualities gave the foundation “the confidence that we were dealing with a very highly credible group.”

A November visit to the College’s California campus, Mr. Mitchell observed, was particularly helpful. “I had an opportunity to spend time with the faculty and staff, and again I was impressed. There are just no weak links in Thomas Aquinas College, even up to and through the Board of Governors,” he said. “They have a board that is probably second to none that I have ever visited.”

While on campus, he was also able to sit in on some classroom discussions. “The students are an elite group of kids who are enjoying an educational experience that is very unique,” he said.  “It was difficult for me to sit there without raising my hand and getting involved!”

“We are profoundly grateful to Emmitt Mitchell and the National Christian Foundation,” says Dr. McLean, “for this magnificent gift of the Northfield property and for their steadfast support of our effort to launch our unique program of Catholic liberal education in New England.”