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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.
Andrew Zepeda (’79) Celebrates 30 Years on Board of Governors
When Andrew Zepeda (’79) joined his alma mater’s Board of Governors at age 38, he was its youngest, newest, and first alumnus member. Thirty years later, he has served Thomas Aquinas College for over 50 percent of its existence, guiding the Board according to the vision of its founders with great hope for the future.
In 1975 — the College’s fourth year — Mr. Zepeda enrolled as a freshman, a decision which would change his life and the lives of his family members forever. He graduated in 1979, received his juris doctor from the University of Notre Dame, and went on to pursue a successful career as a real-estate lawyer and partner at Lurie, Zepeda, Schmalz, Hogan, & Martin in Los Angeles.
Seventeen years after his graduation, the Board of Governors elected him to its ranks in 1996. “When I joined the Board, Tom Dillon had just been appointed president, and the rest of the Board was mostly the original members that had been elected in the ’70s,” Mr. Zepeda explains. As its first alumnus member, he offered a unique perspective both to its august members and to new electees in the years to come.
“The College is completely different from any other institution in every way: from culture, to philosophy, to pedagogy, to financial aid; everything is operated differently.”
“Part of my job as a Board member is to help the other, newer members appreciate the College as a unique educational institution and bring them to understand it,” he says. “The College is completely different from any other institution in every way: from culture, to philosophy, to pedagogy, to financial aid; everything is operated differently.”
In his 30 years serving the College, Mr. Zepeda has served on numerous committees, including the Campus Planning Committee, which oversaw the development of the California campus. Near the beginning of his term, he and Donald Swartz helped begin the Summer & Fall Seminar Weekends, which continue to this day. More recently, he enlisted his legal expertise to help revamp the College’s bylaws.
“We have the finest liberal arts program that is the most attuned to the intellectual traditions of the Church.”
Wise counsel isn’t all that Mr. Zepeda has contributed to Thomas Aquinas College. The Zepeda family has maintained a steady presence in the student body over the decades. Following their brother’s lead, all eight of Mr. Zepeda’s siblings attended and graduated from the College. And he and his wife, Anita (Grimm ’79), are the proud parents of 13 children, 12 of whom are now also TAC alumni. Their youngest, Luke (CA’25), graduated this year, and their eldest son, Joseph (’04), is a tutor on the California campus. Currently, two of their grandchildren are rising sophomores, with more to come!
As a member of one of Thomas Aquinas College’s founding classes, and now, as one of the Board’s longest-standing members, Mr. Zepeda has seen the College grow and develop, becoming a beacon of success for Catholic liberal education. Now, he says, it must continue to shine a light as an example as new, similar programs take root around the country.
“We have the finest liberal arts program that is the most attuned to the intellectual traditions of the Church,” he says. “Thomas Aquinas College was one of the first colleges of this kind and now, as more emerge, others emulate our curriculum, teaching style, and adherence to the Magisterium. We have a leadership role, especially in preparing those who become educators, in the classical education field.”