Our Story

Aquinas College was born from a simple conviction: the Church needs well-formed teachers.

In 1961, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia established Aquinas College to educate young sisters preparing for the teaching apostolate. More than six decades later, that same mission continues. While the College has grown and adapted to meet new needs, it remains rooted in the charism of the Dominican Sisters and committed to serving the Church through intellectual formation, evangelization, and the pursuit of Truth.

Foundations: 1860-1961

Since their founding in 1860, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation have been devoted to the apostolate of teaching. To prepare sisters for the teaching apostolate, the Congregation established St. Cecilia Normal School in 1928. The Normal School became affiliated with The Catholic University of America in 1929 and laid the foundation for what would eventually become Aquinas College.

Mother Joan of Arc Mayo, O.P., served as the College’s first president, while Sister Dominica Gobel, O.P., served as its first academic dean.

Establishing Aquinas: 1961-1994

In 1961, St. Cecilia Congregation opened Aquinas Junior College, which assumed the mission of the Normal School. The College was established at its current location on the Dominican Campus and opened its doors to the public. The inaugural class included 50 nursing students from St. Thomas School of Nursing, 13 sisters, and five lay women. The academic year opened with a Mass of the Holy Spirit, a tradition that continues today. Aquinas became co-educational in 1962.

In 1971, the College received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees.

Over time, Aquinas expanded its mission beyond traditional degree programs through catechist formation, continuing education, conferences, and resources that support Catholic schools and parishes throughout the region.

Growth and Development: 1994-2025

In 1994, Aquinas became a four-year college with approval to offer a bachelor’s degree in education. In 2012, the College received approval to offer master’s degrees in education.

Throughout its history, Aquinas has responded to the changing educational needs of the Church and community. Programs in nursing, healthcare, business, and law enforcement each reflected the College’s commitment to serving the common good.

As the Church’s need for faithful and well-prepared educators grew, Aquinas increasingly focused its resources on teacher formation. Rooted in the liberal arts and guided by the charism of the Dominican Sisters, the College developed academic programs dedicated to preparing teachers who would bring Christ into Catholic schools throughout the country and beyond.

Serving the Church Today

In recent years, Aquinas College has expanded its service to the Church while remaining faithful to its founding mission. In addition to forming future educators, the College now provides academic formation for first-year seminarians of the Diocese of Nashville through its Certificate of Propaedeutic Studies program. Aquinas also serves lay students, catechists, and lifelong learners seeking deeper formation in theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts.

Through its academic programs, outreach initiatives, and partnerships with schools, parishes, and diocesan ministries, Aquinas seeks to strengthen the Church’s mission of education and evangelization.

The Mission Continues

Today, Aquinas College continues the vision of its founders by forming those who will serve the Church. What began as the formation of a small group of future teachers has grown into a broader ministry of service to the Church through the formation of religious sisters, seminarians, educators, catechists, and lay faithful. From future Dominican Sisters and seminarians to teachers, catechists, and lay leaders, Aquinas remains dedicated to helping men and women grow in wisdom, pursue Truth, and place their gifts at the service of Christ and His Church.

Guided by its strategic plan, Called to Communion: One in Christ, One in Mission, Aquinas looks to the future with confidence, committed to educating and forming those who will teach, preach, evangelize, and witness to the Gospel for generations to come.