For The White Street Journal
Thales College, a new private college in the Triangle offering an affordable tuition, accelerated degrees, and a blend of classical liberal arts and career-ready majors is opening this fall in Wake Forest at 3121 Heritage Trade Drive.
The school recently hired Peter Forrest, Ph.D., as Dean of Humanities. Dr. Forrest hails from Auburn University in Alabama and will be teaching undergraduate courses as well as Thales College’s popular dual enrollment classes for rising high school juniors and seniors.
“This is an exciting year for Thales College,” Bob Luddy, founder of Thales College, explains. “Our inaugural undergraduate students start their first term this fall. They will enjoy personalized mentorship and teaching from top-notch faculty, and they will benefit from our new campus home in Wake Forest with the Triangle’s vast opportunities and amenities at their fingertips.”
Thales College is thrilled to welcome Peter Forrest, Ph.D., to their faculty team. Dr. Forrest holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Oxford, a BPhil in Philosophy from Oxford, a M.A. in Philosophical Theology from Yale University Divinity School, and a B.A. in English, also from Yale. His primary area of research has been focused on the philosophy of mind and cognitive science. Dr. Forrest has spent the past five years teaching undergraduates in the Department of Philosophy at Auburn University.
“I am excited to be joining the faculty of Thales College at its inception because I believe that the status quo of American higher education is ineffectual and unsustainable and that the vision of Thales College offers students a better path forward to a life well-lived,” comments Dr. Forrest.
Also joining the Thales College Humanities faculty is Sydney Leonard, who will serve as an instructor as well as an Admissions and Student Life counselor. Ms. Leonard most recently has served as a high school literature teacher at Thales Academy Apex JH/HS and holds a M.A. in Literature from George Washington University.
“The liberal arts are foundational to all of our degrees at Thales College, and Dr. Forrest and Ms. Leonard are going to be wonderful professors and mentors to our students in this area,” says Luddy. “All of our students will benefit from one-on-one faculty mentorship, Socratic-style class discussions that encourage the exchange of ideas and the development of critical thinking, as well as professional guidance and experience in their fields of choice, all of which will prepare our graduates to excel in work and life.”
Thales College provides an affordable liberal arts and professional education so that students develop the wisdom–intellectual ability, meaningful knowledge, moral character, and professional excellence–needed to thrive in life and work. Thales College presently offers three undergraduate degree options: a B.A. in Entrepreneurial Business, a B.A. in Classical Education and Leadership, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. All degrees include a core liberal arts curriculum component, as well as an internship requirement. The school boasts an impressive $4,000/term tuition rate and is committed to making a debt-free college education possible.
Forrest comments, “I believe ideas can change the world, that training in wisdom and training in practical skills are not in conflict, and indeed that gaining wisdom is the most practical goal a student can pursue while in college. I also believe that the artistic and intellectual treasures of our cultural heritage are a great gift to aid us in this pursuit, a gift we must steward and pass on to the next generation. I look forward to exploring these treasures together with the bright and pioneering students of Thales College’s inaugural class.”
Thales College accepts applications on a rolling basis for its undergraduate program and its Founder’s Scholarship (merit-based tuition grant) for Fall 2022. The school is also now accepting applications for its 2022-2023 high school dual enrollment classes (offered free of charge!), and a high school business-focused Summer Institute. Seats are filling quickly, so those interested are encouraged to apply soon. For more information and to apply for admission online, visit: ThalesCollege.org
About Thales College
Thales College combines rigorous academics with one-on-one professor-student mentoring, internships and other work experience, and networking opportunities with community leaders. By combining a classical liberal arts background and professional education with an engaged learning model and an emphasis on real world experience, Thales College students graduate in approximately three years with a wealth of knowledge, critical reasoning abilities, and employable skills. Tuition at Thales College is designed to be affordable ($4,000 per 15-week term, with eight terms required to earn a degree), and a merit-based Founder’s Scholarship is available. For more information and to apply for admission online, visit www.ThalesCollege.org.
