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’s global reach and outlook.
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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’s mission and alumni needs.
Former North Park University Head Men’s Basketball Coach to be inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame.
On October 31, former North Park University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dan McCarrell will be inducted into the Small College Basketball (SCB) Hall of Fame. McCarrell, a three-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year (1978–80), will be honored in Lakeland, Florida, alongside 11 other members of the class of 2025.
“Dan McCarrell’s legacy in basketball is one of excellence, leadership, and unwavering dedication,” said John Born, North Park’s athletics director. “His impact on the game and the players he has mentored is immeasurable. Being inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame is a well-deserved honor recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the sport.”
McCarrell led then-North Park College to three consecutive national championships from 1978–80. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1985 and North Park’s Viking Hall of Fame in 1988. He was also named the NCAA Division III Coach of the Decade for the 1970s at the national tournament banquet in 1980. He coached nine All-Americans, and four of his players were selected in the National Basketball Association draft.
“Coach McCarrell being inducted to the SCB Hall of Fame is another testament to what he’s built at North Park,” said current Head Men’s Basketball Coach Edwind McGhee. “Anytime we talk about the history and tradition of this program, Coach McCarell and his teams are our gold standard. This is a well-deserved honor for him and his family.”
As a North Park student-athlete, McCarrell was a men’s basketball team captain during the 1960–61 season. In 17 seasons coaching the Vikings, his teams compiled a 295–159 record and played in six NCAA tournaments, boasting a tournament record of 17–4. North Park’s three consecutive titles are matched only by the University of California, Los Angeles. They remain the only teams to win three consecutive national titles at any level of college basketball. McCarrell’s 1979 team was the first Division III basketball team to win back-to-back national titles.
This marks the ninth class inducted into the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at Florida Southern College.
North Park University’s dance team won the NCAA Division III Team Performance category for the first time in program history.
In April, North Park University’s (NPU) dance team won the NCAA Division III Team Performance category for the first time in program history at the College Classic National Championship in Orlando, Florida
Thirteen North Park student-athletes attended the competition and master classes, eight of whom were in the group that competed in the Division III Team Performance category. Twelve team members competed and placed ninth in the Division III Pom category.
North Park attended the event for the first time in 2024, taking sixth place in Division III Pom and eleventh in Division III Jazz.
“Winning the national championship title this year meant everything to us,” said Head Coach Kim Maljak. “We worked hard, committed lots of time to practicing, and were dedicated to perfecting our last-minute changes to the routine. Because of that dedication, we became North Park’s first-ever national champion dance team!”
As champions, North Park brought home a trophy, custom jackets, rings, and a banner, which will hang from the balcony in NPU’s Helwig Recreation Center.
The College Classic National Championship, according to organizer Dance Team Union, emphasizes the athletic and creative aspects of dance, recognizing each team’s unique qualities and individuality. Teams from across the county competed for titles in various dance styles, with the winners of the preliminary rounds advancing to the final and battle rounds.
In late April, the North Park community rallied together on campus and off for North Park’s annual day of giving, Blue & Gold Day.
In late April, the North Park community rallied together on campus and off for North Park’s annual day of giving, Blue & Gold Day. In reaching its 10th anniversary this year, it has become part of North Park’s history.
First known as NPU125 in 2015, the same year as North Park’s 125th anniversary, 466 donors contributed $135,901 to the North Park Fund, which touches all parts of the university and seminary, contributing to financial aid, student services, and campus infrastructure.
As Blue & Gold Day evolved, its fundraising efforts expanded to include the Student Care Program, which assists students experiencing financial hardships, and the Viking Club, which supports student-athletes with rising equipment, facilities maintenance, and travel costs. This year marks North Park’s fourth supporting all three funds through Blue & Gold Day.
Advancement Operations Specialist Jennifer Kon has been involved in the project since its inception, recalling the community’s united effort to support the North Park Fund. “It was an all-hands-on-deck effort staffing our first-ever Blue & Gold Day to make a real difference for students,” she said.
In 2025, 541 donors—representing 32 states and two countries—contributed $318,148, more than doubling the amount from the first Blue & Gold Day.
“Each year, Blue & Gold Day exemplifies the power of collective generosity, bringing together alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to support North Park’s mission,” said Annual Giving Manager Emily Black, Blue & Gold Day’s current project manager.
She continued, “Every contribution—whether five dollars or thousands—fuels student success, strengthens campus programs, and reinforces the spirit that defines our community.”
The North Park community’s concerted impact on Blue & Gold Day and beyond ensures that the university and seminary continue to thrive for future generations of students.
Brian Zeid MBA ’99 received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments in accounting.
Marquis Who’s Who, an international publisher of autobiographical profiles, has recognized Brian Zeid MBA ’99 with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for his career achievements in accounting.
Zeid has spent most of his career as an accountant at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he is also a member of the Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and the Business and Finance Services Reporting Committee. Marquis lauded Zeid for his role in managing financial operations and ensuring compliance with accounting standards.
“Mr. Zeid’s role involves meticulous attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy, reflecting his dedication to the field,” Marquis said.
Since 1899, Marquis has printed a “Who’s Who” of accomplished individuals and innovators from the worlds of politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion, and entertainment.
Students, faculty, and staff convened to learn how to have better conversations with people whose opinions differ from their own.
About 25 students, faculty, and staff convened in the Magnuson Center on April 23 to learn how to have better conversations with people whose opinions differ from their own. The “Disagreeing Better” workshop, led by Braver Angels of Illinois, was a Catalyst on Campus event sponsored by the Van Der Meid Lecture in American Politics.
The session, held in preparation for the Van Der Meid lecture in October, was led by Laura Piemonte and Ralph Beck, co-heads of Braver Angels, a nonprofit national organization committed to improving political dialogue.
“Polarization is the one problem that ensures all other problems won’t be solved,” Beck said in his introductory comments. “It’s important to respect all opinions and remember that not everyone in the room will share the same views.”
Attendees then divided into pairs, discussing hot-button topics such as immigration, gun control, climate change, and birthright citizenship. Afterward, the groups reconvened to discuss ways they learned how to listen better, acknowledge other opinions, and grow.
Participants concluded the workshop by creating a “pledge wall” on which they wrote specific instances where they will employ their new skills.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards reflects on theological education following Trinity Evangelical Divinity School’s move to Canada.
In light of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School’s recent announcement that it will close its Chicago-area campus and move to and merge with its sister institution in Canada, North Park Theological Seminary’s dean and vice president for church relations, Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, shared his thoughts on the state of theological education in the United States.
In his essay, Edwards addresses the challenges facing evangelical seminaries while emphasizing theological education’s lasting importance, specifically for encouraging spiritual formation, critical thinking, and character building. To read the blog post, visit the Evangelical Covenant Church’s website.
The North Park community gathered in early April to celebrate those significantly contributing to campus diversity.
The North Park community gathered in early April to celebrate those who have significantly contributed to campus diversity. In his opening remarks, Director of Intercultural Student Affairs Rashad Hanna praised the assembled crowd for being committed to “doing life together.”
“We’re creating spaces where students feel like they belong, and together we’re committed to ensuring that interculturalism will remain the centerfold of our university community,” Hanna said.
In her remarks, President Mary K. Surridge said the intercultural distinctive is important because it reflects the Biblical principles at North Park’s foundation.
The awards and their recipients were as follows:
Champion of Diversity Award: Evelyn Aucutt, senior director of academic engagement and student success
Impactful Alumni Award: Barrington Price BS ’06, CEO of Dominican University’s Chicago campus
Honors Convocation Award: Fidelie Futi, North Park University senior
Director’s Award: Yamileth Gonzalez, North Park University senior
Registered Student Organization of the Year: Latin American Student Organization
The ceremony ended with student leaders receiving their colorful, hand-stitched graduation stoles. As Hanna presented the stoles alongside President Surridge, he said, “These represent the weight of what you’ve carried as student leaders.”
North Park University will start its own 25-player team to begin competing next year.
In response to the growing national popularity of women’s no-tackle football programs, North Park University will start its own 25-player team to begin competing next year.
North Park alumnus Ramon Palma BS ’22 MBA ’24, a former four-year football player at North Park, has been named the team’s head coach. He has begun recruiting students with plans to hold practices in the fall 2025 semester before finalizing a schedule of games to be played in spring 2026.
“Flag football is an exciting opportunity for both me as a coach and for North Park,” Palma said. “I’m extremely thankful for the belief that the leadership team here at North Park have put in my ability to recruit and develop athletes. Being inaugural head coach of this program is proving to be one of my most exciting endeavors at North Park.”
Flag football will become North Park’s 20th varsity sport, with the team expected to join 20 other NCAA institutions in competition. Play consists of seven players from each side vying to score a six-point touchdown, with the opportunity to add one or two extra points with set plays. The sport has become increasingly popular in recent years, with the number of participants at the high school level doubling to 42,955 students from 2023–24.
John Born, assistant vice president for athletics and sport management, said Palma was a natural choice to coach the team.
“Ramon brings a wealth of experience, an unmatched work ethic, and an entrepreneurial spirit. We could not have picked a better person for this position,” Born said.
After Graduating in 2022, Palma began working at North Park in the admissions department, while continuing to be a part of NPU football as an assistant coach and the team’s social media manager. He worked with both offensive and defensive lines as well as curated content in various formats across NPU football’s ever-growing social media pages.
Adam Phillips MDiv ’06 has been named CEO of Interfaith America.
Adam Phillips MDiv ’06 has been named CEO of Interfaith America, a nonprofit organization that strives to strengthen the country by building relationships between diverse faith communities.
Phillips has more than 25 years of leadership experience, having founded church congregations and most recently serving in the Biden-Harris administration as executive director of local, faith, and transformative partnerships at the United States Agency for International Development.
“It’s pretty exciting to see how we’ve more than doubled in size and scope in the past few years,” Phillips said in a statement. “[We’ve become] an industry leader in interfaith diversity work in corporate America and a national leader in seeking the promise of America’s diverse democracy through our civic partnerships.”
Interfaith America was founded in 2002 with the idea that religious differences should serve as a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. Read more here.
Dr. Ryan McAnnally-Linz, associate director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Life Worth Living, visited North Park University.
Dr. Ryan McAnnally-Linz, associate director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Life Worth Living, visited North Park University on March 26 for an event series with the theme “What Makes Life Worth Living?”.
North Park’s Center for Civic Engagement, Office of Intercultural Student Affairs, Office of the Provost, and University Ministries hosted the series inspired by McAnnally-Linz’s book, which is based on Yale University’s most in-demand course of the same name.
The events open to the campus community included a chapel service, Catalyst on Campus, and Fika Forum, at which the discussions encouraged participants to consider their own definitions of a meaningful life and how their values shape their choices. Later in the evening, select students shared a meal and conversation with McAnnally-Linz to dive even deeper into the theme.
Life Worth Living—and, by extension, the event series—is significant to North Park, as all three co-authors have connections to the Evangelical Covenant Church. By weaving perspectives from multiple faith and philosophical traditions, the book and events invited individuals to explore what it means to live purposefully.
Author Megan VoypickPosted on Categories Stories
