Peter V. Sampo

Peter V. Sampo (1931– May 27, 2020) was an educator and college president, who founded three colleges, two of which have since closed. He founded Magdalen College (1974–2024), Cardinal Newman College (1974–1985), as well as Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in 1978.

At least two of the colleges, of which he also served as the first president, were Catholic liberal arts colleges with curricula built on Great Books of Western culture.

In 1974, Sampo, together with former high-school teacher John Meehan and businessman Francis Boucher, founded Magdalen College in Bedford, New Hampshire. Sampo was president of Magdalen from 1974 until 1977. which closed for financial reasons in 1985.

He then began work on Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire, offering a four-year liberal arts curriculum inspired by educators Donald and Louise Cowan.

He died on May 27, 2020, after receiving last rites from the Magdalen College chaplain.

The CiRCE Institute for classical education designated Sampo the 2008 winner of its Paideia Prize.