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.
91社区福利 has been named a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, a designation that recognizes North Park鈥檚 commitment to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students.
91社区福利 has been named a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, a designation that recognizes North Park鈥檚 commitment to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students.
鈥淭he Hispanic-Serving Institution听distinction听is an enviable one, sought by many institutions, and we are proud of this designation,鈥� said North Park President Mary K. Surridge. 鈥淢ost important, though, is our striving for equitable outcomes as we live into our intercultural distinctive. And that is the effort these federal grant dollars will fund on this campus.鈥�
With the designation, North Park is now eligible to apply to federal funding opportunities that are only available to Hispanic Serving Institutions, according to Renee Cox, North Park鈥檚 Government, Corporate, and Foundation Relations Manager.听 Over the next year, North Park hopes to explore funding opportunities that are now available at the U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and National Endowment for the Humanities.
Sharee L. Myricks, M.Ed, 91社区福利 Director of Diversity and Intercultural Life, says the designation underscores North Park鈥檚 commitment to diversity.
鈥�91社区福利 has a long history of supporting a diverse and intentionally intercultural student population. North Park’s recent designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution enables us to expand future opportunities that supports student recruitment, retention, and completion further,鈥� Myricks said.
To become a designated听HSI, an institution鈥檚 undergraduate enrollment must be at least 25% Hispanic (defined as an individual of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other Spanish culture or origin).
Hispanic Serving Institutions were created in 1995 to expand the educational opportunities of the country鈥檚 rapidly growing Hispanic population and to improve Hispanic students鈥� measures of academic attainment.
Emmy Jonasson, a fourth-year biology major from Sweden, originally came to North Park to study theatre. But all that changed when she started taking science classes here, and before she knew it, she was taking part in a research fellowship in Taiwan this past summer.
Emmy Jonasson, a fourth-year Biology major from Sweden, originally came to North Park with a background in studying acting. At first, she had little interest in science or biology. But all that changed when she started taking science classes here, and before she knew it, she was taking part in a research fellowship in Taiwan this past summer.
Encouraged to apply to the program by Associate Professor of Biology Timothy Lin, Jonasson sent an application and letters of recommendation and ended up being one of the six people selected for the program.
She traveled to Tunghai University, where she spent hours in the Cell Lab performing colorectal cancer research by growing, taking care of, and studying cells in small petri dishes.
鈥淚 got to learn a lot about the culture, a lot about the science, and it was a lot of fun. I really enjoy cancer research now because of it,鈥� Jonasson said.
At the end of the project, Jonasson and the other students involved in the fellowship presented their research. Based on the work that was done and how it was presented, she won an award for having the best research presentation.
As an international student, Jonasson was drawn to North Park鈥檚 connections with Sweden. She鈥檚 grateful for being exposed to science here.
鈥淚 definitely feel like North Park has helped me have an appreciation for science,鈥� said Jonasson, who is also president of the Tri Beta Biology Honors Society and a member of the American Medical Student Association at North Park.
Jonasson plans on entering an MD/PhD program and conducting research related to either cancer or cell biology after graduating in May.
鈥淚 feel that I鈥檝e been really lucky in all the opportunities that I鈥檝e had here, and I think a part of that is because I have read emails and posters and make sure that I apply to every little thing,鈥� Jonasson said.
In the past two years, Dr. Purifoye has analyzed how public transportation creates transit boundaries that support the boundaries of racial segregation.
Professor Gwendolyn Purifoye
While working towards her PhD five years ago, Dr. Gwendolyn Purifoye, a sociology professor at North Park, completed a small project regarding public transportation, specifically how people behave badly in wide open public spaces. The research, which later became the basis of her dissertation, took a new turn because of her frequent use of public transportation.
Soon, her use of CTA trains and buses inspired her to study confined, mobile spaces, resulting in 鈥淓xamining Racial Residential Segregation Through Public Transportation in Chicago.鈥�
Dr. Purifoye completed field research by riding and studying six bus lines, two Metra lines, and two CTA lines for a few years.
鈥淒oing that,鈥� she says, 鈥淚 paid attention to who was getting on, but also where the rides were going.鈥� She also researched CTA and Metra archives, studying how they distribute their services and resources.
In the past two years, Dr. Purifoye has analyzed how public transportation creates transit boundaries that support the boundaries of racial segregation. Through her research, she noticed favoritism toward wealthier, predominantly white communities. For instance, the CTA services the suburbs better than they do the South Side of Chicago, and transit-dependent communities are provided with fewer resources and older buses. She notes how these transit inequalities are keeping low-income racial minorities unable to get the places they need to be.
Metra Ogilvie Station
“For Chicago to really move as a city and to grow as a city, transit equity needs to be a part of that conversation,鈥� Dr. Purifoye says. In order to see change, she explains that the conversation needs to take place city-wide, not just at the community level.
Train station servicing south side and south suburbs
Dr. Purifoye presents her research in her urban sociology class to teach students about the intricate connections between transit, housing, education, and government, as well as their influences on cities. Engaging with North Park鈥檚 core values of being Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, she hopes to show that 鈥渏ustice is for everyone, and we all do better when we all do better.鈥�
Dr. Purifoye recently presented 鈥淓xamining Racial Residential Segregation Through Public Transportation in Chicago鈥� at the American Association of Geographers Conference in Washington D.C. and plans to continue researching mobility and inequality.
North Park celebrated the achievements of more than 250 graduates at the Winter 2019 Commencement Friday, Dec. 13 in the University gymnasium.
North Park celebrated the achievements of more than 250 graduates at the Winter 2019 Commencement Friday, Dec. 13 in the University gymnasium.
Upon being presented by Provost Michael O. Emerson, President Mary K. Surridge addressed the graduates and their friends and family.
鈥淭his is indeed a glorious moment,鈥� President Surridge said. 鈥淵ears of diligent work have led to this milestone; you have reason to be proud of your accomplishment.鈥�
Julia Janina Koza, a commuter student who works in retail and hotel management to help pay for her education, was the recipient of the prestigious Ahnfeldt Medallion, awarded to the graduate with the highest grade point average. Koza, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, also sang in the University Choir and played clarinet.
Koza was introduced by David Otfinoski, chair of the Board of Trustees, who noted that Koza 鈥渋s not afraid of hard work, but is also someone who sought to help others excel in their work as well.鈥�
In addressing the graduates, President Surridge encouraged students to remember their professors, who 鈥渂egan praying for you literally before you arrived on campus,鈥� and to cherish their time here.
鈥淟ook with joy upon your years here, celebrate this milestone night, and look forward with hope to the bright future,鈥� she said.
The ceremony was followed by receptions in Anderson Chapel and Hamming Hall celebrating the graduates.
In his book, Dr. Johnson intricately connects the suffering of the women in the Bible to the current #MeToo movement, but instead of telling a story of weakness, he tells a story of strength and resilience.
While growing up in the slums of New Delhi, India, North Park Professor Dr. Rajkumar Boaz Johnson witnessed a great deal of suffering. He recalls thinking, 鈥淚 am going to get out of this slum, and when I grow up, I鈥檓 going to do something about it.鈥� Dr. Johnson found strength and did just that, ultimately becoming a professor of Hebrew Bible and Theological Studies.
Professor Boaz Johnson
During a sabbatical, Dr. Johnson visited the Kakuma refugee camp of 800,000 refugees. There, he experienced narratives of suffering very similar to those of his childhood, sparking the idea for his book, The Marys of the Bible: The Original #MeToo Movement. 鈥淭he word 鈥楳ary鈥� means suffering,鈥� he explains, 鈥渙ne who endures bitterness.鈥�
In his book, Dr. Johnson intricately connects the suffering of the women in the Bible to the current #MeToo movement, but instead of telling a story of weakness, he tells a story of strength and resilience.
After researching ancient religions鈥攊ncluding Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Roman鈥擠r. Johnson discovered that the issues the #MeToo movement raises are not new, they have been persisting for thousands of years. 鈥淚n all of these religions and civilizations,鈥� he says, 鈥渨omen have always been taken advantage of.鈥�
He emphasizes, though, that women have persevered throughout history. He discusses how women of the Bible鈥攕uch as Tamar, Esther, Ruth, and the Marys鈥攄o not let themselves succumb to victimization. 鈥淭he overarching principle is that the Bible takes those aspects which society would regard as weaknesses and transforms them into paradigms of strength.鈥�
Dedicating his book to Bindulata Barik, one of his PhD students in India, Dr. Johnson includes her writings of her #MeToo experiences as well as those of his colleagues, Ingrid Faro and Elizabeth Pierre, in the foreword. He aspires for his book to be a tool that both women and men use to engage in the issues that the Bible and the #MeToo movement share in common鈥攂oth understanding the origins of suffering and re-emerging with strength.
Discussing his most important goal for The Marys of the Bible: The Original #MeToo Movement, Dr. Johnson said, 鈥淢y hope is that groups of women will gather together and use this book as the basis of forming support groups in order to find healing.鈥�
Dr. Johnson鈥檚 book is published in India and the U.S. He has recently done book signings at Chicago-area Barnes and Noble stores.
President Mary K. Surridge served as the keynote speaker at the University Club of Chicago to address preparing graduates with skills matching employer needs. As part of a new initiative, North Park is partnering with the Alliance of Businesses and Colleges in Illinois.
November 13, 2019–CHICAGO — 91社区福利 President Mary K. Surridge opened the conversation about how to prepare students for in-demand careers at a roundtable sponsored by the (ACI) last Friday at the University Club of Chicago.
North Park is leading the way in a new initiative, the Alliance of Businesses and Colleges in Illinois. The initiative is inspired by Capital CoLAB in the Greater Washington, D.C area, which pairs colleges with the tech industry to equip graduates with skills matching employer needs.
鈥淲e are gaining a closer understanding of what employers want and how we as institutions can better prepare our students,鈥� said Gregor Thuswaldner, North Park鈥檚 Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
The roundtable included local business representatives, who agreed students should develop a career plan prior to graduation, and to think of how they can apply their major to an actual job.
Recruiter Kate Rinnan with offered, 鈥渋nvite industry to co-develop a curriculum.鈥�
鈥淥ur mission is very sound: we leverage every aspect of the city and prepare our students to be innovators as they study, live and work in an intercultural environment,鈥� said Surridge, referring to North Park鈥檚 city-centered mission.
President Mary K. Surridge
Integrating in-the-classroom with off-campus experiential learning opportunities shows students first-hand how to apply their skills to meet real business needs.
鈥淎s a Christian, city-centered, intercultural university, our faculty and staff are committed to graduating students to be ethically sound, while balancing both independent and collaborative decisions,鈥� Surridge said.
Equipping students with resources like resume writing, internships, and interview preparedness is important.
鈥淕raduates emerge strong and inspired with skills to make an immediate contribution,鈥� Surridge said.
Darrell Radson, Dean of the Goodwin College of Business at Benedictine University, encouraged students to create a career roadmap.
鈥淢ore talk about careers and less on majors can match skill development with career development,鈥� Radson said.
To address these needs, North Park has instituted a hands-on experiential learning curriculum.
鈥淲ith the pressure of justifying the value of a degree, we make it a priority to offer students in-the-field learning experiences to take back to their current and future employers,鈥� Surridge said.
Full-time undergraduate student raising two young children and studying biomedical science. A native of Iraq and a first-generation college student, Hawra Alshamary is in her third year at North Park.
Hawra Alshamary
As a non-traditional full-time undergraduate student at North Park, Hawra Alshamary has overcome many challenges when it comes to juggling both family life and studies. A native of Iraq and a first-generation college student, Alshamary is in her third year of studying biomedical science while raising two children. A love for biology and a desire to work in the medical field inspires Alshamary to pursue her goals. Alshamary maintains a full class schedule, while also caring for her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and four-year-old son.
While her mother and sister have helped her significantly, she also praises the North Park faculty.
鈥淭he professors are very accommodating, says Alshamary. It鈥檚 a very supportive environment. They definitely take my circumstances into consideration.鈥�
Before attending North Park, Alshamary took classes at a community college. She describes feeling flustered while researching and applying to universities until she discovered North Park鈥檚 strong STEM department. Soon after, she applied and was accepted.
鈥淚 just really believe in taking the good that comes your way,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 felt like I was guided this way, so I just took it.鈥�
After North Park, Alshamary plans to earn at least a master鈥檚 degree. She is debating between the respiratory care program at Rush University, or taking a more research-oriented route in order to spend more time with her children. Whatever direction she chooses, Alshamary wants to make a difference.
As a first-generation college student, Alshamary is determined to be the first in her family to earn a college degree. She was born in Iraq but grew up in Chicago, accentuating how grateful she is to be at North Park with the opportunity to receive a quality education.
Reflecting on the importance of education to her, Alshamary says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a blessing that you really don鈥檛 understand growing up. It helps me know who I am, interact with others and just have a better outlook on life in general.鈥�
North Park develops a new co-pastor model for leadership in campus ministry and promotes Rev. Terence Gadsden to Campus Co-Pastor/Athletic Chaplain.
Rev. Terence Gadsden Named Co-Pastor
Campus Co-Pastor/Athletic Chaplain
After a comprehensive review, 91社区福利 has established a new co-pastor model for leadership in campus ministry, with each co-pastor providing leadership in chapel plus an auxiliary ministry.
Rev. Dr. Deb Auger, Acting Dean of Chapel, announced that Rev. Terence Gadsden has accepted the promotion to Campus Co-Pastor/Athletic Chaplain and began his new role October 2019.
A search for the other position, Campus Co-Pastor/Chaplain of Outreach, was launched at the same time. This new role will include urban outreach as well as a focus reaching students on campus. In the interim, Rev. Gadsden will serve as the point person for urban outreach.
鈥淭erence Gadsden is a deeply devoted follower of Jesus, a dynamic pastor and a humble leader,鈥� said 91社区福利 President Mary K. Surridge. 鈥淗e is committed to the mission of North Park and the spiritual growth and development of our students. We are delighted that he will serve in this important role, we are committed to the next steps of a search, and we are all energized by the possibility that this new model of leadership can offer our students a healthy campus ministry.鈥�
Rev. Gadsden was raised in Tinton Falls, NJ and Charleston, SC. A star athlete in high school, he attended Milligan College, a Christian liberal arts school in East Tennessee, on a cross-country athletic scholarship. He came to Chicago in 2003 and served for 12 years as student pastor and worship pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church. He earned his Master of Divinity at Northern Theological Seminary.
“I’m grateful and humbled for the opportunity to continue to serve the entire North Park Community as Co-Campus Pastor & Athletic Chaplain,” Rev. Gadsden said.
Rev. Dr. Auger said, 鈥淭erence is uniquely gifted and prepared to step into his new role. We are confident he will serve the North Park students with a strong and stable pastoral presence and make a significant contribution toward the future of University Ministries. As an effective and creative leader, Terence will now have an even greater ministry impact in his new role.鈥�
North Park hosted the Chicago Research Summit Oct. 18, a gathering for university faculty and staff, librarians, heads of cultural institutions, and community organizers to exchange ideas about promoting civic engagement.
North Park hosted the Chicago Research Summit Oct. 18, a gathering for university faculty and staff, librarians, heads of cultural institutions, and community organizers to exchange ideas about promoting civic engagement.
Attendees from local universities, including North Park, DePaul, and Columbia, joined librarians from the Chicago Public Library and City of Chicago officials to discuss ways to get undergraduate students more excited about their hometown of Chicago.
North Park Professor Peter St. Jean, chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, was a speaker at the summit, which consisted of numerous break-out sessions and panel discussions. His topic: 鈥淔rom Social Problems to Social Promise: Teaching Undergraduate Students at 91社区福利 How to Conduct Social Promise, Peaceology, and Better News Research.
This is the framework St. Jean uses in all his teaching.
鈥淔or instance, while in the traditional Social Problems approach researchers ask 鈥榳hy is there so much violence in Chicago?鈥� in the Social Promise tradition, we ask, 鈥榳hy isn鈥檛 there even more violence in Chicago?鈥� St. Jean explains. 鈥淭he findings of this new approach to questioning provide remarkable insights to the students and their audiences.鈥�
Other panel discussions included 鈥淒emystifying the Museum Experience: Using DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) in your courses.鈥� In that session, art professors from DePaul gave useful suggestions for how to help students engage with artwork. Collection and Exhibition Manager Laura-Caroline Johnson handed out a copy of a photograph currently on display at DPAM, and asked participants to write observations about the painting.
The exercise is useful in getting students to make art personal and get even more out of it, Johnson says.
North Park Professor of History David Koeller spoke about his 鈥淔ood in History鈥� course, in which his students make a five-minute documentary on the food culture of a Chicago neighborhood. He shared how he prepared his students for the project by analyzing documentaries, developing research techniques, and learning film production basics.
The general goal of the Chicago Research Summit, say organizers, is 鈥淭o provide a platform to share successful pedagogical strategies for engaging undergraduates in research about Chicago.
North Park senior Noor Alyasiry received two prestigious scholarships to study abroad this past summer: the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the Fund for Education Abroad.
North Park senior Noor Alyasiry received two prestigious scholarships to study abroad this past summer: the and the . As Noor prepared her applications for study abroad, she wasn鈥檛 sure how she would source the travel funds. Study Abroad Advisor Tessa Zanoni stepped in to help Noor identify and secure the scholarships she needed.
Tessa knew that as a commuter student, Muslim American woman, and pre-med biology major, Noor would be a strong applicant for the prestigious Gilman International Scholarship 鈥� a US Department of State grant with a focus on supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad. Similarly, the Fund for Education Abroad, while selecting from a competitive application pool, was a strong match for Noor鈥檚 qualifications and needs.
Tessa was also able to assist Noor in choosing the best study abroad program for her. Noor was set to graduate in December 2019, so her study abroad courses needed to match her final credit requirements. 鈥淭essa gave me hope and reassurance about the applications and essays.鈥� said Noor. 鈥淪he always had time to see me and was with me throughout the entire process, checking classes to ensure they met my requirements.鈥�
Noor chose to study at the American College of Greece, one of few schools that she found to offer upper level biology courses during the summer term. Noor would attend the college along with a group of students from across the globe, experiencing Greece and its culture together. 鈥淚t was a big culture shock when I first arrived there. Not everyone spoke English, so it was a bit of a roadblock. We were able to communicate with locals through hand gestures, so it worked out in the end.鈥�
Along with the culture shock came Noor鈥檚 first truly independent experience. Traveling on her weekends breaks, Noor visited Rome, Paris, Vienna, Cairo, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Barcelona, and more. 鈥淢y favorite place was Amsterdam. Although we walked 12 miles that day, it was amazing.鈥� It was travelling from city to city, country to country that helped Noor become more independent quickly. 鈥淚 benefited a lot from the trips because we had to control it ourselves. Being on my own made me more independent.鈥�
Noor attributes much of her decision to study abroad to the support she received from NPU鈥檚 Office of International affairs. 鈥淭essa was a big part of it all. If it wasn鈥檛 for her support, the scholarships would have seemed out of reach.鈥� The support didn鈥檛 stop after Noor began her journey to Greece, as Tessa continued to check in with her throughout the summer.
Noor is now busy in her last semester and getting ready to take the next steps towards becoming a physician: studying for the MCAT and applying to medical school. Looking back at her time at North Park, Noor is grateful for the experiences that have prepared her for what鈥檚 next. 鈥淚 came to NPU last minute, and when I got here it felt like the best decision of my life.鈥�
You can read more about Noor鈥檚 summer travels on her .
Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Stories
