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Members of the Junior Class of Thomas Aquinas College, New England, gathered Saturday night to celebrate one of their favorite members of the teaching faculty, Rodrigo Riberio — now Dr. Rodrigo Ribeiro.

When he joined the College’s teaching faculty last fall, Dr. Riberio had already completed his doctoral studies (philosophy, Center for Thomistic Studies at the University of St. Thomas), but not his dissertation. At the end of February, however, he returned to Houston and successfully defended “Divine Dispensation from the Precepts of the Natural Law According to Saint Thomas Aquinas” — thereby completing the last requirement to obtain his doctorate.

The party was the brainchild of Agnes Umana (’25) and Julianna Bafundo (’25). “Mr. Ribeiro is a good friend of our class,” said Julianna, explaining that the new tutor regularly holds seminars for the Junior Class about the College’s founders. “He really cares about making sure that we love the program,” Agnes added. “He is always so kind and helpful, and this is our way of showing gratitude to him for all that he does for us.”

As he entered the party, Dr. Ribeiro’s students gathered around him, shaking his hand and congratulating him on his momentous achievement. Feasting on cheese, chocolate cake, and sparkling cider, the juniors conversed with each other and the new Doctor of Philosophy, asking him about his dissertation’s thesis, which offers a Thomistic answer to the question, “Can God dispense from the precepts of the natural law?”

“I feel happy and relieved,” said Dr. Ribeiro, when asked how he felt upon the completion of his Ph.D. “It was the culmination of many years of study and dedication.”

Congratulations, Dr. Ribeiro!