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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.
Dr. Michael McLean Reappointed as President of Thomas Aquinas College
May 23, 2016
10,000 Ojai Road
Santa Paula CA 93060
Contact: Anne Forsyth, Director of College Relations
(805) 525-4417
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dr. Michael McLean Reappointed as President of Thomas Aquinas College
SANTA PAULA, CA—May 23—At its spring meeting, the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors voted unanimously to reappoint Dr. Michael F. McLean as president of Thomas Aquinas College.
Pursuant to its bylaws, the Board asked Dr. McLean last year if he wished to be considered for reappointment as president, to which he replied affirmatively. The Board and the College’s faculty then conducted an extensive review, consulting with many constituents, including tutors, administrative faculty members, founders, alumni, chaplains, and benefactors. The consensus was a strong endorsement of Dr. McLean’s performance and a desire for him to continue as president. At a recent meeting of the Board, the process concluded with the Governors’ unanimous vote and Dr. McLean’s formal acceptance of his reappointment.
Speaking for the Board of Governors, Chairman R. Scott Turicchi praised Dr. McLean “for his leadership of the College during his first term, for his deep commitment to preserving the mission of the College as our founders envisioned it, and for his tireless efforts to secure its needs both now and for many years to come.”
Dr. McLean, in turn, thanked the Board for its confidence. “I am grateful to the Governors for entrusting me with the honor of being reappointed as the president of Thomas Aquinas College,” he said. “I pray for the graces to fulfill worthily this great responsibility, and I ask the College’s many friends to join me in this prayer.”
Per the College’s founding and governing document, the Board of Governors must select the College’s president from among the members of the teaching faculty. The College’s founders chose this arrangement, which is singular among American colleges and universities, to ensure the integrity of the College’s mission as an authentically Catholic institution committed to the highest academic standards. Dr. McLean is the College’s fourth president, preceded by Dr. Ronald P. McArthur (1971-1991), Dr. Thomas E. Dillon (1991-2009), and Mr. Peter L. DeLuca (2009-2010).
About Thomas Aquinas College
Thomas Aquinas College has developed a solid reputation for academic excellence in the United States and abroad. At Thomas Aquinas College, there are no majors, no minors, or electives because all students acquire a broad and fully integrated liberal education. The College offers one 4-year, classical curriculum that spans the major arts and sciences. Instead of reading textbooks, students read the original works of the greatest thinkers in Western civilization — the Great Books — in all the major disciplines: mathematics, natural science, literature, philosophy, and theology. Rather than listening to lectures, they engage in rigorous Socratic discussions about these works in classes of 15-18 students. The academic life of the college is conducted under the light of the Catholic faith and flourishes within a close-knit community, supported by a vibrant spiritual life. Genuinely committed to upholding civic virtue and leading lives dedicated to the good of others, Thomas Aquinas College graduates enter a wide array of fields where they are a powerful force for good in the Church and in the culture. Well-versed in rational discourse, they become leaders in education, law, medicine, journalism, public policy, military service, and business. In addition, a steady 10% of alumni go on to the priesthood or religious life.