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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Judy Barrett Joins College’s Board of Governors
At its most recent gathering, the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors welcomed its newest member, Judy Barrett. Mrs. Barrett is an owner of the historic Chateau Montelena Winery in the Napa Valley. Her late husband, former College Governor James L. Barrett, guided Montelena from its rebirth in 1972 until his death in 2013.
“It is only fitting to have a Barrett on the Board again,” remarked President Michael F. McLean. “For the 18 years that Jim was a governor, Judy was always by his side, offering her wisdom and counsel. She has tirelessly served the Church in various capacities over the course of decades, and we are grateful that she is willing to put her great leadership and experience at the service of Thomas Aquinas College.”
For nearly 20 years Mrs. Barrett served as the Respect Life Director for the Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa. In 2001 she was one of the first three women appointed to the Diocesan Finance Council, a position she held for over 10 years. She co-chaired the Diocese’s Annual Ministry Appeal from 2005 through 2007. She is a member of the Diocesan Communications Committee and is a frequent contributor to The North Coast Catholic, the newspaper of the Santa Rosa Diocese. The Most Rev. Robert F. Vasa has additionally appointed her to an ad hoc fundraising committee for the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa.
In 2006 Mrs. Barrett was appointed to the Religious Liberty Committee of the California Catholic Conference, serving until the committee was terminated in 2012, at which time she was invited to contribute blogs to the Conference website, writing on religious liberty, respect for life, and other issues.
Mrs. Barrett currently serves on the Boards of St. Helena Montessori School (St. Helena, California) and NPH USA, an organization that supports homes for orphaned and abandoned children in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries. She facilitates a local group that supports NPH USA’s St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti. Her past charitable and community affiliations have included the Boards of Directors of Wyoming Catholic College and the Napa Valley Community Foundation.
A graduate of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Mrs. Barrett was admitted to the California Bar in 1979 and is an inactive attorney. She is a member of the Napa Valley Legatus chapter and the California Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums, as well as a steward of the Papal Foundation. In recognition of their magnificent generosity to the College over many years, she and Mr. Barrett were inducted into the Order of St. Albert the Great in 1998.