North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
Ceremony includes recognition of scholarly works and installation of new administrators
CHICAGO (September 19, 2016) 鈥� The 萝莉社 community gathered in Anderson Chapel Monday, September 19, for its University Convocation, an annual ceremony honoring the achievements of faculty and staff.
鈥淲e often talk on our campus about preparing students for lives of significance and service,鈥� said University President Dr. David Parkyn. 鈥淏ut how does that walk take place? How is it that individuals can work with others and mentor them along the way?鈥� This is accomplished largely through the work of faculty, he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our joy today to celebrate that preparation. To come together to acknowledge professional accomplishments and share in applause about the scholarship, artistic creativity, and other good things that go into being an academy.鈥�
The ceremony announced newly promoted and tenured faculty, and recognized faculty and staff who have recently published books, articles, and other scholarly and creative work, including plays, reviews, recordings, staged exhibitions, art installations, and other performances.
罢丑别听University Choir and the聽Chamber Singers聽each聽performed during the ceremony, under the direction of Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music Dr. Julia Davids, who was also recognized for receiving tenure.
CHICAGO (September 13, 2016) 鈥� Selected undergraduate students have concluded research from a mentor-mentee structured, eight-week summer program. Made possible by support from 萝莉社鈥檚 donors, students accepted into the program receive a $3,500 stipend, plus $500 for materials and free on-campus housing, to participate in the North Park Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS).
The program started in 2015, and since then, word-of-mouth has made getting a spot in NPRESS increasingly competitive. This year, 13 students were chosen out of 30 applicants. For both the student and the faculty member, the one-on-one mentor-mentee framework, along with a student cohort model, is unique, as this type of relationship is traditionally seen at the graduate and doctorate level.
May 2016 graduate and NPRESS participant Ana Liz Castillo embraced the mentor-mentee framework. 鈥淭hroughout the summer, we all faced many challenges, such as how we were going to interpret the data to get the best results, or getting results that were statistically not significant. Having the support of our individual mentors, and the professors from other majors, helped us overcome those walls,鈥� said a pleased Castillo.
North Park faculty members and NPRESS co-directors and developed the program to offer undergraduate students a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience, encompassing research, writing, and presenting. 鈥淣PRESS gives students the full experience as an undergraduate while also providing students a sense of graduate-level research,鈥� said Johnson.
Inspired by the program, participants like Castillo plan to extend their academic studies into post-undergraduate work. 鈥淣PRESS helped me to generate the first findings of a research area that I want to focus on in graduate school,鈥� remarked Castillo. 鈥淭his past experience with NPRESS聽instilled research habits that will become extremely useful for me to excel in my graduate studies.鈥�
Commitment to the program is significant, with a minimum of 40 hours of research per week. 鈥淪tudents have regular weekly check-ins with their co-directors and mentors throughout the eight weeks,鈥� said Kaestner. At the end of the eight weeks, students are well-prepared to present to a packed room of faculty, advisors, peers, members of the board of trustees, and donors, held on campus at the .
This year鈥檚 July 29 and August 31 presentations covered a broad array of research topics from the various divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences and other schools at North Park. NPRESS recipients covered such wide-ranging subjects as Independence Movements in Catalunya and the Emergence of Populism in Espana: A Political Analysis; How Prayer Takes Us Beyond Onto-theology; and Exploring the Relationship Between Inventory Turns on Gross Profit Margin Measures.
NPRESS students agreed that while research is hard work, they welcomed the challenge of combining disparate subject matter. Influenced by North Park鈥檚 commitment to using Chicago as our classroom, participant Hannah Hawkinson researched feminist readings of Mary Shelley鈥檚 Frankenstein and of three Gospel narratives, comparing them to the experiences of five immigrant and refugee women in Chicago.
鈥淣PRESS gave聽me time and space to develop my聽research skills and聽academic writing abilities while also supporting聽engagement聽with social justice issues here in Chicago,鈥� said Hawkinson, an聽听补苍诲 聽major. The NPRESS experience 鈥渁fforded the opportunity to explore these passions in tandem through my research project,鈥� added Hawkinson.
Each of the chosen topics, with a clear set of goals initiated by the students and supported by the mentor-mentee relationship, reflects the North Park mission to prepare students for lives of service and significance. 鈥淢y mutual passions for feminist theology and social justice聽were not only allowed, but encouraged, to come together in the pursuit of significance and service,鈥� remarked Hawkinson.
As for the future of NPRESS, Johnson is particularly excited about taking the educational experience to a different and higher level, where research becomes a central component of the North Park experience. 鈥淭he students are excited about the possibility of doing more,鈥� he said.
The NPRESS Committee also expressed their gratitude to the donors and the board for making the program possible and for providing North Park students with another avenue to connect academic interests with real-life experiences.
Acceptance into NPRESS is based on student merit, outcome, and commitment, and evaluated by North Park鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Committee (URC). The application deadline for Summer 2017 will be this spring, and applications are open to faculty and undergraduate students of all disciplines. Inquiries can be made with URC Chair Dr. Jonathan Rienstra-Kiracofe at jrienstra-kiracofe@northpark.edu.
School’s new name more accurately reflects profile of adult learner
CHICAGO (September 2, 2016) 鈥� We鈥檝e heard the metaphor before that life is like a marathon. The finish line is commonly perceived as the ultimate goal, yet the journey we take to get there is important too, and can vary from person to person. For some, speed and making good time is a motivator, while others find themselves having to adjust the pace as life just happens.
Different styles and abilities comprise the pack鈥攖he fully charged runner, steady walker, balanced walker-jogger combo, intense sprinter鈥攅ach as equally goal-oriented as the other. When thinking about post-secondary education and earning a degree, while speed may very well be a factor, at the core is being prepared to advance one鈥檚 career with transferable skills and degree in-hand.
Today鈥檚 students have a variety of options as they evaluate how to embark on their educational journey, from the traditional four-year path, to fully online, to a hybrid of online and in-classroom. 萝莉社鈥檚 , now celebrating its 25th year, is fully committed to offering this group of motivated students a quality education to prepare for the finish line and beyond as they seek career advancement and growth.
North Park has been active in providing programming to degree-seeking adults since 1991, embracing the characteristics of the adult learner. What faculty and staff have learned is that their average 25-and-up adult learner has significant and credit-qualifying life and work experience, and is actively pursuing a particular interest and degree. This student profile is telling, as this fall, North Park has renamed its degree-completion and graduate program the School of Adult Learning as the School of Professional Studies (SPS). 鈥淭he closer we thought about what an adult learner is, we realized it鈥檚 more about the learner as an adult than age itself,鈥� said Dean of the School of Professional Studies .
The name change more accurately reflects the full makeup of the SPS, since most of its students transfer to North Park with previous college credit of one kind or another. Flexible options for degree completion such as two quads that start within each of the three semesters, and generous credit to leverage learning from previous work and other experiences鈥攖hese are the very ways in which SPS provide a solid foundation to students who are pursuing their degree in a format that suits their lifestyle. 鈥淭he SPS student thrives in our supportive environment, where they receive personal instruction and advising,鈥� said Associate Director and Assistant Professor .
North Park is a close community, offering support and opportunity to develop personal and professional connections. So adding more services for SPS students reentering a college-level learning environment, like personal advisors, comes naturally to the North Park culture. 鈥淔rom day one, the staff listened to what my goals were and helped me to be successful,鈥� said graduate Cameron Sweeney.
Understanding that various life circumstances brought students to a nontraditional path of earning their degree is foundational to the SPS program, which seeks to meet the interests and demands of the adult learner and continue to add value to their lives. focused on the private, public, and nonprofit sectors are designed to meet the students鈥� interests and equip them with coveted transferable skills to attract employers and ultimately land in-demand jobs.
SPS instructors hold credentials on par with faculty serving traditional degree-seeking students and often work outside the University within their fields, weaving real-world experience into the classroom. 鈥淢any of my professors have worked, or still do, in marketing, so I鈥檓 up-to-date on the latest developments,鈥� said business administration graduate Chad Woehrle.
As an inclusive community that engages the city and offers open enrollment to SPS students, the University shares its resources to further enhance the educational experience for SPS students. For instance, the (COE) is now located in close proximity to SPS offices, to further support the needs of students taking online courses.
SPS graduates have secured jobs in a wide variety of fields, including IT, psychology, and nonprofit management. The proof is in SPS鈥檚 success rate of going from degree-completion student to new graduate鈥攎ore than 56 percent of recent SPS alumni earn their degrees once enrolled, nearly double the for nontraditional students. 鈥淒egree-seeking students are to be celebrated for their dedication to completing their degree, and their success rate is indicative of access to a quality education,鈥� added Scrementi.
Graduation day is one of life鈥檚 many marathons鈥攂ut it鈥檚 an important milestone. The SPS faculty and entire learning community at North Park are committed to offering a quality learning experience, so students can get to the finish line feeling strong, believing in themselves, and ready to apply their confidence and skills.
An Tran C鈥�14 earned first prize at the 2016 Hamilton International Guitar Festival and Competition
CHICAGO (August 3, 2016) 鈥� Class of 2014 萝莉社 graduate An Tran聽 at the 2016 Hamilton International Guitar Competition last month in Ontario, Canada, earning a cash prize, a custom handmade guitar, and an appearance at the 2017 Hamilton Guitar Festival.
Tran received first prize in the Vietnam National Guitar Competition at the age of 12; Vietnam鈥檚 Best Overseas Student Award in 2010; a certificate of merit granted by Vietnam鈥檚 vice president in 2010; first prize in the 2013 Society of American Musicians Guitar Competition; and first prize in the 2013 萝莉社 Performance Awards. In 2013, he was by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.
After earning a with classical guitar as his major instrument, Tran was accepted into the Yale School of Music, where he earned a master of music this spring. 鈥淵ale has an amazing guitar graduate program, one of the best in the world,鈥� he . 鈥淭here were 200 applicants from all over the world, and they chose two. I am very lucky and honored to be one of them.鈥�
A native of Hanoi, Vietnam, Tran was invited to perform Rodrigo鈥檚 Concierto de Aranjuez with the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra last year. As a senior at North Park, he toured Vietnam on behalf of the Red Cross Society, performing charity concerts.
While at Yale, Tran served as a teaching artist for the Music in Schools Initiative. He will return to the Chicago area this fall to pursue a doctor of musical arts at Northwestern University. 鈥淚 want to become a professor to teach music and guitar, and also continue to provide music for people,鈥� as a North Park student in 2013. 鈥淚 want to share with others what I am learning from my teachers right now.鈥�
萝莉社 student-athletes recognized with academic all-conference and academic excellence honors
CHICAGO (July 27, 2016) 鈥� Fifty-five 萝莉社 student-athletes were named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) winter and spring teams this month, and four student-athletes earned Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference honors.
The Swartz Award is given to one male and one female athlete from each CCIW school at the end of each season. To be eligible, students must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.50 and must have lettered in their sport that season.
North Park鈥檚 winter 2015鈥�2016 Swartz Award recipients were track and field athletes Natalie Swanson, a May and graduate of Manlius, Ill., and rising junior major of J枚nk枚ping, Sweden. Spring 2016 Swartz Award-winners were May graduate (softball) of Libertyville, Ill., and rising junior student Josh Smith (baseball) of Lake in the Hills, Ill.
Academic All-Conference selections are chosen based on individual student-athletes maintaining an overall grade point average of at least 3.30 and lettering in their sport that season. .
On the heels of that recognition, the Vikings also received the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) 聽for the 2015鈥�2016 academic year, one of two CCIW programs to do so. In order to qualify for the award, teams must carry a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 throughout the academic year.
鈥淭his is an especially gratifying recognition for our program,鈥� said Head Baseball Coach . 鈥淲e are one of only 32 NCAA Division III teams honored鈥攐ut of 384 with baseball programs鈥攁nd one of 82 NCAA Division I, II, or III nationally. This puts us in the top 8.5 percent of grade point averages for Division III as well as the NCAA as a whole.鈥�
Johnson credits the baseball program with helping to prepare students for life after graduation. 鈥淎t the end of the day, their academic performance is what sets them up for the next phase of their lives,鈥� he said of his student-athletes. 鈥淲hat this says is that the lessons that they learn about competing and producing, the lessons that are reinforced in the discipline of practicing and playing college baseball, clearly become a part of their identity as people.鈥�
University Partnering with Department of Education to Expand College Opportunity
CHICAGO (June 28, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 is one of 67 colleges and universities selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Second Chance Pell program, the department has announced.
The pilot program will allow eligible incarcerated students to receive Pell Grants and pursue postsecondary education, enrolling 12,000 prisoners at more than 100 correctional institutions around the country. Qualifying students are likely to be released within five years of enrolling in coursework.
First announced in July 2015, the program had received interest from more than 200 colleges and universities by last October. North Park is one of two institutions in the state of Illinois to be selected as a participating institution.
鈥淭he evidence is clear,鈥� said U.S. Education Secretary John B. King Jr. in a statement. 鈥淧romoting the education and job training for incarcerated individuals makes communities safer by reducing recidivism and saves taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration.鈥�
础听 found that incarcerated individuals who participated in correctional education were 43 percent less likely to return to prison within three years than prisoners who did not participate in any correctional education programs. RAND also estimated that for every dollar invested in correctional education programs, four to five dollars are saved on three-year reincarceration costs.
The selected institutions 鈥渄emonstrate strong partnerships between the postsecondary institution and correctional institutions,鈥� the White House Press Office said in a statement. 鈥淭hese partnerships will help to facilitate high-quality educational programs, strong academic and career support services, and re-entry support.鈥�
The announcement comes after North Park became a founding partner of the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge earlier this month. On June 10, Secretary King hosted representatives of 15 institutions, including 萝莉社 President David L. Parkyn, at the White House to announce the pledge, which seeks to expand college opportunity and eliminate barriers for those with a criminal record.
鈥淭he Second Chance Pell program is an excellent mission fit with who we are at North Park,鈥� said Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, professor of theology and ethics. She spearheaded the University鈥檚 application to the program and co-teaches current North Park courses offered in correctional centers. 鈥淥ne of the things I tell our partners is that we鈥檙e not just about education; we鈥檙e about justeducation. Offering accessibility to groups who traditionally don鈥檛 have access to higher education is something North Park is well positioned to do.鈥�
鈥淭he population in prison is probably one of the least accessible populations in the country,鈥� Clifton-Soderstrom said. 鈥淣orth Park is Christian, urban, and intercultural. And to be truly intercultural, we need to address some of the barriers to participation in education from all people.鈥�
Honorees include Muslim Women鈥檚 Alliance and Christopher House
CHICAGO (June 15, 2016) 鈥� For nonprofit professionals, it鈥檚 a familiar feeling: being proud of your organization鈥檚 work, but wishing you had access to the resources that would fulfill its mission more effectively. Particularly for the Illinois nonprofit sector, hit hard by the state鈥檚 budget impasse, questions of how to do a lot with a little are more relevant than ever. So when industry leaders gathered Monday for the , they together explored maximizing those resources already within their organizations.
The daylong conference鈥檚 theme, 鈥淢ining for Gold: Uncovering Hidden Treasures in Your Organization,鈥� emphasized highlighting the talents of the people within nonprofit organizations, and connecting them to trends within the sector for maximum impact. Interactive sessions throughout the day offered strategies to leverage opportunities and reinvigorate the way professionals look at internal resources.
In addition to breakout workshops on timely industry topics hosted by sector leaders throughout the day, the Symposium this year offered two new features: Ask the Expert, individual appointments that allowed for questions on a variety of specific subjects; and Ask a Funder, opportunities to connect with program officers at area foundations.
In her keynote address sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, speaker Kimberly Bryant challenged attendees to use what was unique about their organizations and 鈥渇igure out a way in our work to create real change for the communities we serve.鈥� Bryant is the founder and executive director of Black Girls CODE, a nonprofit dedicated to 鈥渃hanging the face of technology鈥� by introducing girls of color to the tech and computer science world, with a concentration on entrepreneurial concepts.
Named by Business Insider as one of the 25 Most Influential African Americans in Technology, Bryant grew Black Girls CODE from a local nonprofit serving only the Bay Area to an organization with seven U.S. chapters and one in South Africa. She was able to develop the organization by turning perceived disadvantages into advantages, Bryant said at the Symposium. 鈥淲e focused on digging back into our culture, and tapped into the unique needs of our communities,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat I鈥檓 most proud of is how we鈥檝e developed these girls as leaders. We鈥檝e changed the conversation around tech and changed the lives of our students.鈥�
The world puts people into boxes, Bryant said. But in the field of technology, people are taught to be disrupters. 鈥淚dentify the pain points or things that make you uncomfortable, and work through them to make them your own,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e still in the box as a nonprofit leader, it鈥檚 time to come out. It鈥檚 time to create change, and it鈥檚 time to get to work. Nonprofits play a special role in creating change in an equitable way. The time is now to realize the power that nonprofits have.鈥�
Nonprofit Management Awards
The Axelson Center also announced the winners of its and its 聽at Monday鈥檚 awards luncheon. The 2016 Excellent Emerging Organization Award, presented to an up-and-coming Chicago-area nonprofit, was given to Muslim Women鈥檚 Alliance. The 2016 Alford-Axelson Award, given for exemplary nonprofit management practices, was presented to Christopher House, with an honorable mention awarded to Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
(MWA), the 2016 Excellent Emerging Organization Award winner, promotes the Islamic values of fairness, service to others, and community building. MWA鈥檚 core focus areas are development of women leaders, fostering community service, mentoring women to build confidence, and empowering the community through awareness and action on social issues.
鈥淭his is a gesture to us that we need to keep powering on,鈥� said MWA Director of Organizational Development Suroor聽Raheemullah in her acceptance remarks. 鈥淎 lot of the time, when you see things that happen like what happened last weekend, it can get defeating,鈥� Raheemullah said, referencing the recent Orlando shooting and its possible connection to religious motivations. 鈥淚鈥檓 really honored to get this and continue to do important work. It is important that when you see us, you don鈥檛 fear us, but love us, because we love all of you.鈥�
MWA received a $2,500 cash prize, sponsored by聽MB Financial Bank, a commemorative award, and a capacity-building package, valued at over $25,000, that will support improvement of services and efficiency. The Excellent Emerging Organization Award was created to honor organizations whose strength is apparent even in the early stages of existence, displaying sound management practices, innovation, and programming and leadership capabilities.
This year鈥檚 Alford-Axelson Award winner, , provides education and resources to low-income children and their families to succeed in school, the workplace, and life. 鈥淚n this environment, with a state budget crisis, this sort of investment and recognition of our hard work to get us to be a high-performing organization really means a lot,鈥� Christopher House CEO Lori Baas said, accepting the award. 鈥淪o thank you very much.鈥�
The Alford-Axelson award honors and continues the legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community healthcare leader and visionary, and Jimmie R. Alford, a leading contemporary thinker and founder of the national consulting firm the Alford Group. Christopher House received a $5,000 cash prize and a commemorative award symbolizing the organization鈥檚 dedication to extraordinary managerial excellence.
In recognition of their honorable mention, CEO David Bearden said, 鈥淲inning is not about just getting an award, it鈥檚 in the process of learning who you are. So we thank this organization for helping us do that.鈥�
The Symposium ended with the Make Your Pitch contest, in which a variety of local nonprofits made their case to a panel of judges for a $1,000 cash prize, sponsored by Wintrust Commercial Bank. Conference participants were invited to hear pitches and also cast their vote in support of the best pitch. The winning organization, , works to improve children鈥檚 product safety, and received the prize after pitching the concept of developing and printing Spanish-language safety brochures.
For more information about the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, visit .
University a Founding Partner in Administration鈥檚 Effort to Expand College Opportunity
CHICAGO (June 10, 2016) 鈥� Today, announced that it has joined with the Obama Administration and 24 other colleges and universities around the country as a founding partner for the launch of the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge. The pledge provides higher education institutions with the opportunity to voice support for improving their communities through expanding college opportunity and eliminating barriers for those with a criminal record.
This morning at the White House, U.S. Secretary of Education John King and Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Mu帽oz hosted North Park, along with 14 other higher education institutions, to announce the . Together, the 25 founding partner institutions represent and serve more than one million students.
鈥淭oo often, a criminal record disqualifies Americans from being full participants in our society鈥攅ven after they鈥檝e already paid their debt to society,鈥� the White House Office of the Press Secretary said in a statement. 鈥淭his includes admissions processes for educational institutions that can make it difficult if not impossible for those with criminal records to get an education that can lead to a job.鈥�
萝莉社 President聽 agrees. 鈥淣orth Park prepares students for lives of significance and service,鈥� he said.聽鈥淲e believe that all people desiring a high-quality education deserve the opportunity. This has meant expanding the range of students we are educating, and expanding the support services we provide. We applaud the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge, and we will work diligently to create pathways for a second chance for people with a criminal record. We are delighted to join fellow universities in working to remove unnecessary barriers for a higher education and becoming places of hope and opportunity.鈥�
President David Parkyn was hosted at the White House to announce North Park’s founding partnership in the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge.
The Fair Chance Pledge
鈥溌芾蛏� applauds the growing number of public and private colleges and universities nationwide who are taking action to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed, including individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system,鈥� reads the pledge. 鈥淲hen an estimated 70 million or more Americans鈥攏early one in three adults鈥攈ave a criminal record, it is important to remove unnecessary barriers that may prevent these individuals from gaining access to education and training that can be so critical to career success and lead to a fulfilled and productive life.鈥�
鈥淲e are committed,鈥� the pledge continues, 鈥渢o providing individuals with criminal records, including formerly incarcerated individuals, a fair chance to seek a higher education to obtain the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to our nation鈥檚 growing economy.鈥�
believes that as a university that deeply values its Christian identity, urban location, and intercultural campus community, North Park is uniquely positioned to broaden college opportunity. 鈥淧eople with criminal records have often made a series of serious mistakes,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s our educational system is currently set up, they will pay consequences for their mistakes for the rest of their lives, unable to get a university education.鈥�
鈥淲e believe people can and do change, and like anyone else, need an opportunity to learn, grow, earn a living, and serve their community,鈥� Emerson continued. 鈥淎s a Christian university, we are compelled by our understanding of faith to offer the possibility of a university education to all who are willing to commit to higher learning.鈥�
A Transformative Model
One of the ways 萝莉社 has already worked to increase access to higher education is through courses held in Stateville Correctional Center. The semester-long classes, launched last year, have included a field education course called Intercultural Dialogue, in which Seminary students learned alongside Stateville students. 鈥淪everal of those students have asked if, upon their release, they can continue their education at North Park,鈥� said Emerson. 鈥淚t is important to us that they can do so.鈥�
, professor of theology and ethics, co-taught the class. 鈥淣orth Park鈥檚 education in prison envisions a transformative justice model of education that cultivates leaders in new contexts, forms Christian character through intercultural learning, and rethinks teaching and pedagogy,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e are committed to providing both theological and liberal arts education to individuals while they are currently incarcerated and after their release.鈥�
Founding Partners
The higher education institutions serving as founding partners in launching the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge are: Ancilla College, Arizona State University, Auburn University, Boston University, City University of New York, College of Saint Benedict, Columbia University, Eastern University, Howard University, New York University, 萝莉社, Nyack College, Raritan Valley Community College, Rutgers University (Biomedical and Health Sciences, Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick), Saint John鈥檚 University, San Francisco State University, State University of New York, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, University of California System, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, University of Puget Sound, and University of Washington.
Liza Ann Acosta as University dean; Gregor Thuswaldner as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
CHICAGO (June 2, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 has announced the聽appointment of two new deans, effective August 15. will serve in the newly created position of聽University dean, and Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner has been named as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
As University dean, Acosta is charged with the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty across the University; faculty development; and hearing academic grievances and student appeal cases. The position reports to , and will be housed within the Office of the Provost.
Acosta, who earned her PhD in comparative literature from Penn State University, has been on North Park鈥檚 faculty since 2000, and will continue in her role as professor of聽. For the past four years, she has served as division director and associate dean of humanities, arts, and social sciences. Prior to that, she served as director of humanities, and two terms as chair of the English department. She has held numerous additional leadership roles on campus and in the larger Chicago community.
In addition to her success as an educator, Acosta is an accomplished writer and performer. Colleagues, students, and alumni find that she has embodied and championed North Park鈥檚 values for the entirety of her professional career. She has been a strong, consistent advocate for the ethnic and racial diversification of the student body and faculty, and has served as a role model and mentor for many.
As part of her new role, Acosta will be working with the deans of the colleges, schools, departments, and other units on campus to create strategies for faculty development and ethnic diversification. She will also oversee the Teaching and Learning Cooperative, work with the Professional Development Committee, and develop faculty-mentoring programs to help faculty progress through each stage of their careers.
In accepting the position, Acosta said, 鈥淎fter 16 years at 萝莉社, I am honored to serve my colleagues and my students in this capacity, leading the way to a campus that lives its values of equity and justice, built upon a rich immigrant heritage and a foundational Christian tradition.鈥�
鈥淚 can think of no one better situated to serve as the inaugural University dean than Liza Ann,鈥� said Emerson. 鈥淪he embodies everything this important position requires. We need imaginative strategies to continue diversifying our faculty, and we need careful, focused attention on faculty development and mentoring. To become the university we strive to be, elevating the centrality and care of our faculty is essential.鈥�
Gregor Thuswaldner named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Thuswaldner will serve as both dean and professor of humanities. A native of Austria, he has served as professor of German and linguistics at Gordon College since 2003. In his six years as department chair, he greatly diversified the department faculty, created highly successful major and minor programs, and substantially grew the number of linguistics majors.
So successful is Thuswaldner鈥檚 department that College Factual, in conjunction with the聽Wall Street Journal and USA Today, now rank Gordon as one of the nation鈥檚 colleges 鈥淢ost Focused on Languages and Linguistics.鈥� He is also the cofounder and academic director of the Salzburg Institute of Religion, Culture, and the Arts, a flourishing Christian liberal arts summer study abroad program. He has served most recently as interim director of the Center for Faith and Inquiry at Gordon.
The new dean has a strong background in faith-based and intercultural higher education administration, and a track record of fundraising and obtaining research grants. He is a prolific scholar鈥攈e has published six books, numerous journal articles and book chapters, and translated two books from German to English鈥攁nd an award-winning teacher. After just three years at Gordon, he received the college鈥檚 Distinguished Faculty Award.
鈥淚 am absolutely thrilled to connect with the Chicago community and join 萝莉社,鈥� Thuswaldner said. 鈥淣orth Park鈥檚 three core values鈥擟hristian, urban, intercultural鈥攄eeply resonate with me, and as a fellow , I am very impressed with the University鈥檚 heritage and trajectory. I look forward to collaborating with the faculty on a number of projects in order to heighten the visibility of the College of Arts and Sciences.鈥�
Nyvall Medallion presented to campus architecture designers
CHICAGO (May 16, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 culminated the 2015鈥�2016 academic year last weekend by awarding degrees to 467 students, including 318 bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
Three commencement ceremonies were held Saturday, May 14, for students from all 听补苍诲聽聽programs, including聽. Combined with the聽聽held last December, degrees were presented to 682 萝莉社 graduates this academic year.
The weekend began with a baccalaureate service for all graduates, their families, and friends Friday, May 13, at , Chicago. 鈥淭onight, take with you two lessons taught by 萝莉社鈥檚 first president, David Nyvall, in the very earliest days of our university鈥檚 history,鈥� said President in remarks to graduating students. 鈥淔irst, our knowledge of truth is imperfect. Second, our response to this imperfect grasp of truth should be to welcome others in, to insist on hospitality.鈥�
鈥淚f you have learned these two lessons in the course of your days at North Park, you are ready to graduate,鈥� Parkyn continued. 鈥淓verywhere you go, and with everyone you meet, remember that you know only in part, and then in humility and grace, open your arms to all others鈥攁lways for God鈥檚 glory and neighbor鈥檚 good.鈥�
鈥楥ommit yourself to work that really matters鈥�
At its undergraduate commencement ceremony Saturday morning, the University presented its David Nyvall Medallion to Paul Hansen, William Ketcham, Douglas Hoerr, and Carl Balsam, four individuals who have served the school in exceptional ways over the past 20 years. Named for the University鈥檚 first president, the medallion is presented for distinguished service to the people of Chicago.
Hansen, Ketcham, and Hoerr, the University鈥檚 three architects over the last two decades, have worked closely throughout that time with Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer , whose leadership has been instrumental in this work. 鈥淭hree architects and an administrator. Which one of these is not like the other?鈥� Balsam joked in his remarks as he accepted the award.
Balsam worked with Hansen on designing and building Brandel Library, beginning in 1999. At the time, Hansen recommended closing the partial city street that the previous library faced, opening up a space to create a center for the campus. 鈥淭hat appeared wise then, but today, it seems brilliant,鈥� Balsam said. Hoerr then created landscape design for that central campus area, which Balsam called 鈥渓andscaping of striking beauty.鈥� Next, the University worked with Ketcham on the design and construction of the . 鈥淭he Johnson Center stands as a testimony to William鈥檚 vision,鈥� Balsam said. 鈥淭heir work has created a great treasure on the North Side of our city of Chicago.鈥�
Balsam told graduating students the satisfaction he鈥檚 found in his work has come as he discovered his calling and worked collaboratively on that calling. 鈥淏ecause of your study at North Park, you have begun to discover your unique gifts, and hopefully you鈥檝e begun to gain an understanding of the world鈥檚 needs in a way that stirs your passion,鈥� he said. 鈥淐lass of 2016, my hope for you is that you will find your special calling, and that you will realize great success as you work in community with others. Commit yourself to work that really matters, and to work that serves others.鈥�
The Ahnfeldt Medallion, given to the senior with the highest grade point average, was presented to Alanna Dwight, Turlock, Calif., bachelor of science in . North Park’s winners Katherine Bast, Holland, Mich., bachelor of arts in and ; Elizabeth Wallace, Oak Lawn, Ill., bachelor of arts in聽 飞颈迟丑听 and an聽聽teaching endorsement; and Bethany Joseph, Grand Rapids, Mich., a 2015 recipient of a bachelor of arts in聽 and ,聽were also recognized.
Eighteen students from the North Park College (now University), Academy, and Seminary classes of 1966 marched in gold caps and gowns and were recognized for celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. When these alumni graduated in 1966, North Park College was celebrating its 75th anniversary.
鈥楤ecause you don鈥檛 know you can鈥檛鈥�
Four graduates addressed the afternoon commencement ceremony for , the , and the , sharing the ways their North Park education shaped their lives and careers. Heidi Bush, Chicago, a School of Business and Nonprofit Management graduate with a , spoke about taking on difficult tasks, not because you will always know how, but 鈥渂ecause you don鈥檛 know you can鈥檛,鈥� she said. Bush challenged her peers to take on the impossible with that attitude, just as they had done in their studies at North Park.
Laura Clarizio, Chicago, a School of Nursing and Health Services graduate with a , shared thoughts on a philosophy of nursing and a life of service. 鈥淧eople will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,鈥� she said, quoting Maya Angelou.
Dean of North Park Theological Seminary 聽presided at the Seminary commencement, which honored 29 graduates. The Ahnfeldt Medallion was presented to the graduate with the highest grade point average, Michael Hertenstein, Chicago, . In addition, academic awards were presented to several students.
An honorary doctor of divinity was conferred to Rev. Edward Delgado, president of the Hispanic Center for Theological Studies (CHET), a 萝莉社 and Theological Seminary subsidiary. Prior to his current position, Delgado served as the director of evangelism and prayer for the . 鈥淭hank you for this honor. May God continue to bless and guide you in your ministries ahead,鈥� Delgado told the group of graduates. 鈥淭hat they would include challenges, and they would include adventure.鈥�
Rev. Dr. Catherine Gilliard, senior pastor of New Life Covenant Church, Atlanta, delivered the commencement address, in which she called graduating students to become 鈥渄isturbers of the city,鈥� as Paul and Silas are described in the book of Acts. 鈥淭his has been a season of preparation. But tomorrow, the work begins,鈥� said Gilliard. 鈥淵ou are being sent out to lead God鈥檚 people in a new way of being. You are ambassadors of hope.鈥�
Gilliard, who received a and a from the Seminary, emphasized the lessons found in the service鈥檚 New Testament reading, Acts 16:16鈥�34. 鈥溌芾蛏� midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them,鈥� Gilliard said, quoting the passage. 鈥淢y resolve today is to encourage each one of you to remember that in the days ahead you will face in your ministries, you will have to write your own midnight words. Midnight gives way to a new day where God鈥檚 hope is evident.鈥�
鈥淚 pray God鈥檚 blessings on each of you as lead,鈥� said Gilliard. 鈥淚 pray God鈥檚 power on each of you as you become disturbers of your city. And I pray God鈥檚 anointing as you leave this place to make a difference in the world.鈥�
CHICAGO (September 19, 2016) 鈥� The 萝莉社 community gathered in Anderson Chapel Monday, September 19, for its University Convocation, an annual ceremony honoring the achievements of faculty and staff.
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CHICAGO (September 13, 2016) 鈥� Selected undergraduate students have concluded research from a mentor-mentee structured, eight-week summer program. Made possible by support from 萝莉社鈥檚 donors, students accepted into the program receive a $3,500 stipend, plus $500 for materials and free on-campus housing, to participate in the North Park Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS).
This year鈥檚 July 29 and August 31 presentations covered a broad array of research topics from the various divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences and other schools at North Park. NPRESS recipients covered such wide-ranging subjects as Independence Movements in Catalunya and the Emergence of Populism in Espana: A Political Analysis; How Prayer Takes Us Beyond Onto-theology; and Exploring the Relationship Between Inventory Turns on Gross Profit Margin Measures.
CHICAGO (September 2, 2016) 鈥� We鈥檝e heard the metaphor before that life is like a marathon. The finish line is commonly perceived as the ultimate goal, yet the journey we take to get there is important too, and can vary from person to person. For some, speed and making good time is a motivator, while others find themselves having to adjust the pace as life just happens.
North Park is a close community, offering support and opportunity to develop personal and professional connections. So adding more services for SPS students reentering a college-level learning environment, like personal advisors, comes naturally to the North Park culture. 鈥淔rom day one, the staff listened to what my goals were and helped me to be successful,鈥� said graduate Cameron Sweeney.
CHICAGO (August 3, 2016) 鈥� Class of 2014 萝莉社 graduate An Tran聽 at the 2016 Hamilton International Guitar Competition last month in Ontario, Canada, earning a cash prize, a custom handmade guitar, and an appearance at the 2017 Hamilton Guitar Festival.
CHICAGO (July 27, 2016) 鈥� Fifty-five 萝莉社 student-athletes were named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) winter and spring teams this month, and four student-athletes earned Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference honors.
CHICAGO (June 28, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 is one of 67 colleges and universities selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Second Chance Pell program, the department has announced.
CHICAGO (June 15, 2016) 鈥� For nonprofit professionals, it鈥檚 a familiar feeling: being proud of your organization鈥檚 work, but wishing you had access to the resources that would fulfill its mission more effectively. Particularly for the Illinois nonprofit sector, hit hard by the state鈥檚 budget impasse, questions of how to do a lot with a little are more relevant than ever. So when industry leaders gathered Monday for the , they together explored maximizing those resources already within their organizations.
In recognition of their honorable mention, CEO David Bearden said, 鈥淲inning is not about just getting an award, it鈥檚 in the process of learning who you are. So we thank this organization for helping us do that.鈥�
CHICAGO (June 10, 2016) 鈥� Today, announced that it has joined with the Obama Administration and 24 other colleges and universities around the country as a founding partner for the launch of the Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge. The pledge provides higher education institutions with the opportunity to voice support for improving their communities through expanding college opportunity and eliminating barriers for those with a criminal record.
CHICAGO (June 2, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 has announced the聽appointment of two new deans, effective August 15. will serve in the newly created position of聽University dean, and Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner has been named as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Thuswaldner will serve as both dean and professor of humanities. A native of Austria, he has served as professor of German and linguistics at Gordon College since 2003. In his six years as department chair, he greatly diversified the department faculty, created highly successful major and minor programs, and substantially grew the number of linguistics majors.
CHICAGO (May 16, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 culminated the 2015鈥�2016 academic year last weekend by awarding degrees to 467 students, including 318 bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
聽presided at the Seminary commencement, which honored 29 graduates. The Ahnfeldt Medallion was presented to the graduate with the highest grade point average, Michael Hertenstein, Chicago, . In addition, academic awards were presented to several students.