Saint Katherine College is a new liberal arts school that was founded in 2010 by physician and scientist, Frank Papatheofanis.

The San Marcos-based school is a four-year, nonprofit Christian college with a curriculum that blends arts and science. For example, students learn about 19th century British literature at the same time theyre being taught about European monetary policy.

Papatheofanis, 55, was raised in Chicago and moved to San Diego in 1995 after accepting a faculty position at UC San Diegos School of Medicine. Hes worked in everything from radiology to public health, and is currently Saint Katherines president.

The Rancho Santa Fe resident tells us why he started his own university.

Q: What inspired you to Saint Katherine College?

A: I have been fortunate to learn and teach at acclaimed research universities like UCSD, Johns Hopkins and the University of Illinois. Inquiry and research were critical to what I did at those institutions. However, one comes to a point where inquiry without meaning is hollow. As a Christian, I knew that the mind was important to my identity. I started the college around the motto: Inquiry Seeking Wisdom. Wisdom is defined here as Christ. Our desire is to create a community of learners and teachers who passionately pursue their studies, but do so to grow in their love and pursuit of the Lord.

Q: Why does San Diego need a school like Saint Katherine?

A: The education landscape in San Diego is dominated by giant public universities and for-profits. Education cannot be served up cold. In other words, faculty and administrators are not merely interchangeable talking heads. It should matter to you what your professor thinks. Are they a person of integrity? What are their values? Are they community-focused? Do they serve the poor and disadvantaged, or merely talk about it in class? We want to create a place where the big questions of life matter and continue to be worked out. This college offers San Diegans and others a place where the option to learn and teach Christianly matters.

Q: Is this school only open to Orthodox Christian students?

A: It is open to anyone. Like other faith-based colleges, we anticipate our Orthodox Christian student body will include approximately 20 to 25 percent of our students. So far, students who come from the Roman Catholic tradition and traditional Protestant denominations seem to be drawn to the college.

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New university combines science and spirituality