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Thomas Aquinas College Welcomes New Regents

Three Appointed to College Board

(Winter 2006 Newsletter)

Like many institutions, a private college relies on the good will, generosity, and assistance of leaders in its community in order to thrive.

Fortunately, the list of individuals who have dedicated their efforts to assisting Thomas Aquinas College is formidable—and it is expanding.

It is, therefore, with gratitude and enthusiasm that the College welcomes three new members to its recently-formed Board of Regents.

Nicholas E. Martin

Mr. Nicholas Martin is a seventh generation Californian, with a German ancestor who arrived in the Golden State during the 1849 Gold Rush. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Mr. Martin is a Certified Public Accountant and the President and Owner of Martin Container Inc., the oldest and largest provider of industrial storage containers on the West Coast.

Seeing an opportunity to expand the markets for storage containers from the steamship lines of America and Asia to the consumer and homeowner, he founded Martin Container in 1976. Its corporate offices are located in Wilmington, California, and its main operational building is in nearby Compton. Martin Container Inc. also maintains branch offices throughout North America.

Nick and his wife, Judy, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of four sons: John, Kenneth, Andy, and Charley. The youngest Martin son is now a student at St.Monica’s Academy in Pasadena, California, where Mr. Martin is a member of the governing board. Through his involvement with St. Monica’s, he gained firsthand experience of some of the good fruits of the education offered at the College. “Many of the teachers we have at St. Monica’s come from Thomas Aquinas College. Their excellent intellectual caliber and their faithfulness to the Church made me want to support the institution that was producing them.”

Mr. Martin had long been familiar with the College, as his late father, Mr. J. Edward Martin, was one of its earliest and most generous supporters as well as a member of its Board of Governors.

President of the College, Dr. Thomas Dillon, was delighted with Mr. Martin’s appointment, saying, “I am especially pleased that Ed’s son has accepted a position on our Board of Regents. In this capacity, Nick will be carrying on the Martin legacy at Thomas Aquinas College.”

William Costigan, M.D.

Dr. Costigan (r.) with friend and benefactor Richard Grant

A native Californian who grew up in Thousand Oaks, Dr. Costigan received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of California at San Diego in 1988, where he was the class valedictorian.

Upon graduation, he took some time off from studies in order to assist his best friend who was suffering from renal cancer; among other things, he took this friend to Lourdes to bathe in the healing waters there. Upon their return, the cancer was found to be in remission.

The experience has given Dr. Costigan a great dedication to this holy site and inspired him to sponsor several other individuals on journeys to Lourdes. In addition, he is now a Provisional Knight in the Order of Malta, known around the world for its annual pilgrimages to this shrine of Our Lady.

When Dr. Costigan returned to his studies, he attended Tulane University in New Orleans, where he earned a master’s degree in health administration. Having had a desire to become a doctor from young age, he then enrolled in the University of Southern California Medical School and earned an MD.

Specializing in spinal surgery, Dr. Costigan has studied in some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world, including Oxford University and the University of Nottingham. Currently, he is a partner with Congress Medical Associates, Inc., a multi-specialty orthopaedic medical practice in Pasadena, California.

Dr. Costigan learned about Thomas Aquinas College through his friend, Thomas P. Sullivan, a long-time member of the College’s Board of Governors and its first Chairman. After attending commencement exercises in 2003 at which Cardinal Christoph Schönborn officiated, and after participating in a Summer Seminar weekend at the College, Dr. Costigan was convinced that the College was an institution he wanted to support.

As a Regent, Dr. Costigan believes that his “outsider’s” view of the value of a Thomas Aquinas College education will be helpful to the College and its graduates. “The liberal education these students receive is of immense worth. I hope to help find ways to apply that education to the practical world of business and science and, in that way, make a positive impact.”

Edward O’Connor

Edward O’Connor is the Chief Executive Officer of Benefice LLC, which provides information, products, and services to the global Catholic market. He has an extensive background in venture capital and business advisory services, having served formerly as chief information officer and investment advisor at Chase Capital Partners and JP Morgan Partners and, more recently, as managing partner for HipKnotix LLC.

Mr. O’Connor has also held executive and managerial positions at ESPN, AGIC, and the Young Presidents’ Organization. He is an honors graduate of the University of Texas, where he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, and he has completed all coursework toward a PhD in political philosophy/humanities at the University of Dallas. Mr. O’Connor lives in New Haven, Connecticut with his wife, Molly, and their five children Claire, Aidan, Nora, Maeve, and Brigid.

Having learned of Thomas Aquinas College from his wife’s brother, the admissions director of a Catholic college on the east coast, Mr. O’Connor wanted to learn more. He began to investigate the College and eventually visited the campus. What he discovered deeply impressed him. “I couldn’t get over the beauty of the place, the rigors of the academics, and the good balance of faith and reason.”

About this time, his good friend, Mr. David Young, was appointed to the College’s Board of Governors and quickly proposed that a Board of Regents composed of up-and-coming professionals across the country be established to assist the Board of Governors in building up support for the College. His initiative was supported by his fellow Board members, and the Board of Regents quickly became a reality, with David serving as its Chairman. Naturally enough, it was his suggestion that Edward be offered an appointment to the new Board.

Mr. O’Connor is now committed to doing whatever is necessary to promote and benefit the College. “I am especially interested,” he says, “in helping to devise a media campaign whereby we can get the word out about Thomas Aquinas College to the general market and to particular markets in order to raise consciousness about the school’s quality and foster substantial amounts of financial support.”

Mr. O’Connor has already put his words into practice and is actively engaged with Development office staff in designing and implementing the initial phase of a national media campaign. Says Director of College Relations, Mrs. Anne Forsyth, “It is wonderful to be able to draw on Edward’s experience and expertise. We are so grateful to him for his initiative and guidance in this effort.”

-- Qtrly Newsletter, Winter 2006