CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2023) — Thomas More sees validation of its commitment to academic excellence and student success, as the University announces its inclusion in the prestigious list of the top 10 small colleges in the South as recognized by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ)/College Pulse. This distinguished ranking underscores the University’s dedication to fostering exceptional student outcomes, providing an enriching learning environment, and championing diversity among its student and faculty population – the three distinct factors that make up these rankings.

At the heart of Thomas More University’s recognition is its outstanding track record in ensuring student success. University curriculum provides space for students to explore their interests and their place in the world, while also taking opportunities to figure out their responsibilities to others. With academic innovation in mind, the University officially launched its Second Century Core curriculum, gaining Board approval in March 2023, which streamlines the path to graduation and offers students greater flexibility. The new core curriculum sprung from goals set forth in the University’s five-year Strategic Plan: Lighting the Way and allows the University to modernize its approach to liberal arts education. Focusing on the interdisciplinary nature of life, it provides the breadth and depth graduates need to succeed in the 21st century.

More impactful than rankings, the impressive careers Thomas More graduates go on to lead create positive changes in the communities they serve and in the lives of others. Michael Stephens ’19, M.D., started college at the age of 16, thanks to attending an accelerated middle and grade school. Stephens participated in a local speech contest while in high school and met Raymond Hebert, Ph.D., long-time Thomas More faculty member and current executive director of the William T. Robinson III ’67 Institute for Religious Liberty. “Seeing that I had an interest in medicine, [Hebert] arranged a meeting with Thomas More pre-med advisor Sioban Barone,” explains Stephens. “Both of them helped shape the entire trajectory of my life. Throughout my studies, I developed close, lasting relationships with the faculty. They were all truly interested in my growth and development, in getting to know me as a person.” Stephens is now an instructor in dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Among his duties is serving as director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Dermatology clinic, caring for patients with cutaneous diseases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More University, students are exposed to a wide variety of content and experiences. These experiences often propel career direction and opportunities that were not initially on the student’s radar. Haley Jackson ’20 was an environmental science major, and a service-learning opportunity during her junior year led her to the successful career she now leads, in an area she is passionate about. “We started talking about the impacts of food waste and hunger as a social, economic, and environmental issue,” she recalls. “That’s when I knew what I wanted to do. I wasn’t sure how to make a career out of it, but I was sure this was the direction I was headed.” After earning a master’s degree in public affairs and completing a yearlong internship at an Indiana food bank, Jackson landed her current role at Share Our Strength, a Washington, D.C., based non-profit. Its hallmark program, No Kid Hungry, awards grants to community organizations that work directly to solve hunger, particularly among children. “I’m working on being a part of the hunger solution,” Jackson says, “which is what I’ve wanted to do since my time at Thomas More.”

For the full “Top Colleges by Size in the South” article from WSJ/College Pulse, CLICK HERE.

Thomas More University also earned a ranking as a 2024 Best College nationwide. To read the release about this accomplishment, CLICK HERE.

For more information about Thomas More University, visit www.thomasmore.edu.

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About Thomas More University
Founded in 1921, Thomas More University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, challenging students to Make It More. Deeply rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, this timeless foundation supports a transformative educational experience as students looking to Be More are guided in the pursuit of knowledge, ethical leadership, and the integration of faith and reason. Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More, students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others which leads to the ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the world. Serving more than 2,000 students, Thomas More takes its place as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, being named one of the 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal. To find out more, visit thomasmore.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lyna Kelley, director of communications and PR, kelleyl@thomasmore.edu, 859.344.3309