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.
The School of Music, Art, and Theatre presents several upcoming opportunities to break from your routine, including the Chamber Opera, spring play, and Gospel Choir concert.
As spring arrives, you may be eager to escape your dorm, classroom, or office. The School of Music, Art, and Theatre presents several upcoming opportunities to break from your routine, including the Chamber Opera. April 12 and 13 at 7:30 pm, in the beautifully renovated Hanson Hall 202, North Park’s opera program presents a double bill—one seldom-performed modern opera and one old favorite presented in a new way. The two features are Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, the familiar story of a brother and sister lost in the woods who encounter and eventually outwit a witch, and Argento’s The Masque of Angels, a humorous story of an unruly troupe of angels who attempt to influence a young couple to marry.
NPU Opera Production of "Cendrillon"
Nyela Basney, artistic director of opera, says that one of the program’s goals is “to give our students as many opportunities as possible to present a range of stories from the point of view of diverse characters.” With every student in the opera program performing at least one role in the upcoming operas and most playing two characters, the goal will certainly be met this spring. Tyler Thress, a student member of the opera, is confident that the productions will be “touching, challenging, and inspiring,” crediting the collaborative spirit of the program’s directors. “I think that’s one of the great strengths of the opera program here,” Tyler adds. “We work with professional directors and conductors from a wide variety of artistic traditions, which prepares us for a highly competitive field in the real world.”
Gospel Choir Performance
Other upcoming events from the School of Music, Art, and Theatre include the spring play, Tender Rough Rough Tender by Sarah Saltwick, described as a “. . . play built for theatrical gestures and two performers with nerves,” showing April 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12 at 7:30 pm, and April 13 at 2:30 pm in Lecture Hall Auditorium. The Gospel Choir concert, April 6 at 7:30 pm in Anderson Chapel is always a very meaningful event for both the choir, and for the audience. And previously featured in Stories, but still well worth mentioning, are the Senior Thesis Art Exhibitions in the Carlson Tower Gallery, which feature the artworks of 11 senior art students and will run through May 11. Craig Johnson, dean of the School of Music, Art, and Theatre, emphasizes the importance of these upcoming productions saying, “I believe that all of these events allow our students to express their creativity, and to advance their development as performing and visual artists.
The Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life recognizes the talent and dedication of student leaders in diversity on Facebook Live, March 26.
North Park’s Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life (ODIL) celebrates the talent and dedication students have demonstrated throughout the year as leaders in diversity. During the Annual Multicultural Awards Celebration on March 26 via a virtual Facebook live event, select students will be recognized for academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service, and involvement surrounding diversity, advocacy, and justice.
The celebration features awards in:
Multicultural Student Leader Recognition
ODIL Director’s and Assistant Director’s Awards
Honors Convocation Diversity Award
Reflecting the University’s core values—Christian, intercultural, and city-centered— North Park is committed to highlighting the significance of diversity through the work of the ODIL, numerous cultural clubs, and events such as the Annual Multicultural Awards Celebration. Marcus Payne II, the Assistant Director of North Park’s ODIL, highlights the importance of recognizing intercultural leaders.
“The Office of Diversity would not be without the diversity club leaders and dedicated faculty and staff who live out the true mission of the University. I am extremely grateful to learn from and walk alongside these talented leaders,” said Payne.
Multicultural Student Leader Recognition Award
The Multicultural Student Leader Recognition award honors graduating seniors that currently hold or have held leadership positions in a cultural club, student workers in the Office of Diversity with at least 1.5 years of service, or Diversity Representatives in the Student Government Association.
This year’s recipients include:
Mallory N. Coakley, Spring 2021, Bachelor of Music Education (Voice)
Ngbarezere “Fritz” Frezar, Spring 2021, BA in Communication Studies
Michelle Gonzalez, Spring 2021, BA in Early Childhood Education (incl. IL certif.)
Kathryn S. Gustafson, Spring 2021, BA in Sociology
Selena Han
Yuzhen “Selena” Han, Spring 2021, BS in Business (Accounting and Finance)
Haobitai “Melody” Haobitai, Fall 2020, BA in Education
Melody Haobitai
Ayrianna S. Longs, Spring 2021, BA in Sociology
Ayrianna Longs
Emilia I. Ohia, Fall 2020
Kosisochukwu “Kosi” C. Okeke, Fall 2020, BA in Psychology
Emily M. Ostercamp, Spring 2021, BA in Communication Studies
Iga Szelag, Spring 2021, BS in Business (Accounting)
Helen H. Uriostegui, Spring 2021, B.S in Business (Accounting)
Jordan N. Williams, Fall 2020, BS in Business (Marketing)
Michelle Gonzalez
“I went from being a member of LASO to becoming its president for two years, and I have grown a lot from it. I want to accept the award on behalf of those who are underrepresented to let them know that we can push forward and follow our dreams as minorities,” said Michelle Gonzalez, president of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO). LASO celebrates Latinx culture through conversation, movies, dance events, and food events that are open to all students.
Kathryn Gustafson
By continuing the Swedish tradition of Fika—a daily break from work to enjoy coffee, treats, and conversations—Kathryn Gustafson, president of the Scandinavian Student Association, hopes to foster a rich community where people can connect with each other. “I feel lucky to be honored at the 2021 Multicultural Awards Celebration. North Park is a very diverse school, and I am proud to continue sharing part of my heritage,” said Gustafson.
Champion of Diversity Award
Formally known as the North Park University Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the Champion of Diversity Award recognizes a faculty member, staff member, or administrator that has conducted exceptional work in the areas of interculturalism, restorative justice, or racial recognition. Dr. Liza Ann Acosta, University Dean and English professor, has been selected as this year’s recipient.
ODIL Director’s and Assistant Director’s Award
The ODIL Director’s and Assistant Director’s Award honors a person or group for outstanding contributions to the campus community through their involvement in promoting an inclusive and intercultural campus culture at North Park.
Iga Szelag
This year, Iga Szelag has been selected as the recipient of the ODIL Director’s Award for her leadership and su
stained commitment as the Rising DREAMers United (RDU) President, COMPASS Mentor, Lighthouse Scholar, DreamUS Cohort Student Mentor, 2020–2021 Student Government Association (SGA) Diversity Representative, and member of SGA’s Advocacy and Finance committees at North Park. In addition to developing a positive intercultural environment on campus and demonstrating high academic achievement, Szelag embodies the ODIL’s 2020–2021 theme of ‘Impact Over Intent.’
Honors Convocation Diversity Award
Honoring a graduating senior, the Honors Convocation Diversity Award recognizes a person that demonstrates leadership and sustained commitment to advancing North Park’s intercultural core identity on campus as well as throughout the Chicago community.
As the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) Vice President, Lighthouse Scholar, member of the Hispanic Serving Institution Student Auxiliary Board, and a principal charter member of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) at North Park, Helen Uriostegui’s leadership has significantly impacted North Park. Based on her contributions to intercultural life, high academic achievement, and embodiment of ‘Impact Over Intent,’ Uriostegui will receive the 2021 Honors Convocation Diversity Award at the celebration.
Jelitsa Legarreta, G’18, has carved out a niche in the highly competitive health and beauty space.
Energetic, passionate, and positive, Jelitsa Legarreta, G’18, has carved out a niche in the highly competitive health and beauty space. Inspired by her family matriarchs, and with her own young daughter serving as the benchmark for safety and efficacy, Legarreta distributes her good-for-you facial products at boutiques and via her e-commerce website. Legarreta’s Latina-founded skin care brand, Uviña (“you-vee-nuh”) Skin is inspired by culture, confidence, and self-love.
“I knew from my business entrepreneurship and marketing courses that I would need to distinguish my brand and products that reflected a real understanding of my target market well,” said Legarreta.
Legarreta, who grew up in Chicago, realized that there was market share yet to be captured in the ethically and naturally-sourced skin care arena reflecting and celebrating Latina culture.
Pursuing dual graduate degrees simultaneously, MSN in Leadership and Management with an MBA, Legarreta found North Park to be the perfect choice to enhance her skills and make a difference. “I really value learning in an environment with smaller class sizes and instructors who truly care about your mastering of the material and your success,” said Legarreta.
Over a decade of experience in nursing, Legarreta applied her knowledge of the human body towards a passion near and dear to her heart—her family. “I was about to apply a product on my daughter when I stopped to question a product’s safety. After discovering that I wasn’t satisfied with what was out on the market, I decided to launch Uviña,” said Legarreta.
Honing her nursing skills through North Park’s School of Nursing and Health Science (SNHS) and business acumen in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM), Legarreta worked hard while earning the dual master’s degrees in nursing and business administration—and is loving what she has been able to accomplish.
“My education at North Park not only strengthened the skills I use in the nursing profession but also instilled the knowledge and confidence that I apply everyday towards developing, promoting, and distributing Uviña products,” said Legarreta.
Legarreta’s dedication as a nurse and leadership as an entrepreneur is visible. She currently is the Associate Director at the Joint Commission and Uviña is a growing brand being embraced by the community.
“I am so fortunate that I get to do every day what I love—making a difference in the nursing field and helping people feel good about what they apply on their skin,” said Legarreta. “North Park holds a special place for me as I take on my day with knowledge, support, and confidence,” added Legarreta.
After being canceled last summer due to COVID-19, North Park’s Summer Science Academy (Academy) is set to resume in-person under robust safety measures.
After being canceled last summer due to COVID-19, North Park’s Summer Science Academy (Academy) is set to resume in-person under robust safety measures.
Since 2016, the summer enrichment experience led by Dr. Yoojin Choi has offered interactive, hands-on courses in biology, biomechanics, physics, chemistry, and psychology to high school students.
Designed to introduce students to college-level classes while nurturing their passion for science, the courses are taught by North Park’s full-time faculty members. North Park science students and recent alumni also have the opportunity to develop leadership skills through the Academy as teaching assistants.
“I have found that Summer Science Academy provides a venue for Chicago-area students from diverse backgrounds to come together and learn—students from selective-enrollment schools to charter
Dr. Yoojin Choi
schools to neighborhood schools to suburb schools, from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, from freshmen to seniors,” said Dr. Choi.
Mira Cechova, a current North Park junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology, appreciated the extra preparation before entering college. “I truly enjoyed attending Summer Science Academy and meeting the different professors. As a North Park student now, I already got to know in advance the professors that I would have.”
This summer’s Academy will be held July 12-16, and students have the opportunity to take Forensic Chemistry, Biomechanics of Body Movement, or Human Anatomy Boot Camp.
In Forensic Chemistry, students will get to learn the behind-the-scenes of popular crime television shows by participating in hands-on activities, such as collecting evidence, analyzing samples of blood, drug, glass, DNA, and ink, as well as learning techniques in fingerprinting and chromatography.
Through measuring human movement with video, 3-D motion capture, force plates, and accelerometers, students enrolled in Biomechanics of Body Movement will gain experience with interactions between physics and musculoskeletal anatomy as they relate to human movement in sports performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.
Aiming to excite students for careers in healthcare, Human Anatomy Bootcamp explores organ systems of the human body and their connections to nutrition through experiential learning with 3-dimensional models, virtual systems, and human cadavers in the state-of-the-art Johnson Center’s Cadaver Lab.
Taking necessary precautions, the University plans to closely monitor the pandemic situation both on campus as well as the surrounding area; based on this safety analysis, cancelation of the Summer Science Academy may occur.
Yvonne Renee Watts, an adjunct professor with North Park’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM), joins Crain’s Chicago Business 2021 list of exceptional leaders in HR.
Dr. Yvonne Renee Watts, an adjunct professor with North Park’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM), joins Crain’s Chicago Business 2021 list of exceptional leaders in HR. To be honored among Crain’s Chicago Business 49 HR leaders, Dr. Watts had to demonstrate the ability to effect change in a senior leadership role at a company of at least 50 employees.
Dr. Yvonne Renee Watts
Described by her students as full of energy, Dr. Watts teaches Human Resource Management to both undergraduate and graduate students. Teaching at North Park is a natural fit for Dr. Watts. “As a Christian, I am surrounded by students, staff, and faculty that share the same faith and values that I follow. North Park’s vision and commitment to intercultural values allows me to engage and interact with others that are diverse in many ways, resulting in my gaining new insights from multiple perspectives,” said Dr. Watts.
A passion for learning and education, along with a life-long goal to teach at a university, inspired Dr. Watts to pursue a doctorate degree in adult education. With twenty-plus years in various leadership roles, Dr. Watts believes in bringing awareness to the challenges accompanying real life events, imparting to her students the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence that they too will need.
“I believe my diverse professional background (special education teacher, seminar presenter, licensed administrator, and former US Marine) and my hands-on experiences in workforce management serve as a valuable resource that brings real work scenarios to the classroom,” said Dr. Watts.
In her daytime role, Dr. Watts is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Little City Foundation, a nonprofit serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over the course of the pandemic, Dr. Watts has effected change to participant safety, transportation and facility use, incorporating CDC protocols.
North Park students benefit directly from the in-the-field experience Dr. Watts has implementing strategies addressing recruitment, retention and performance, resulting in improved quality hires, employee engagement and reduced turnover.
“I have always seen myself as more than an employee’s supervisor, which includes not only overseeing or directing the work of others, but to serve as a facilitator in the career or personal development of employees. I apply this same logic to my students,” said Dr. Watts.
North Park University and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) have co-developed a partnership agreement for selected UIC graduates to gain admission into North Park’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program. Through this agreement, graduating seniors and alumni from UIC’s Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition have the opportunity to join North Park’s established MSAT program taught by leaders in the field of athletic training.
North Park University and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) have co-developed a partnership agreement for selected UIC graduates to gain admission into North Park’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program. Through this agreement, graduating seniors and alumni from UIC’s Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition have the opportunity to join North Park’s established MSAT program taught by leaders in the field of athletic training.
The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) requires students, interested in becoming athletic trainers, to graduate from a CAATE-accredited master’s program to take the Board of Certification (BOC) exam; earning a MSAT will prepare students to pass their BOC exam. Interest in the partnership program is expected to be high, as Gen Z college students are passionate about pursuing healthcare-related careers working directly with athletes.
“North Park’s and UIC’s partnership represent the coming together of two higher ed institutions providing students access to a quality education and advance their careers,” said Dr. Kelly Potteiger, North Park’s Professor of Athletic Training.
The two-year curriculum equips graduates with tools and experiences to contribute to the evolution of athletic training and societal health. Students learn through clinical experiences and hands-on training – all taught by a seasoned faculty in the world-class city of Chicago.
“A MSAT degree gives students the opportunity to develop confidence in a challenging, accredited, competency-based program while simultaneously building preparedness for a direct and clear career path,” said Dr. Karrie L. Hamstra-Wright, UIC’s Visiting Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Criteria to the Partnership Program includes
Initial selection materials submitted to UIC faculty and staff selection committee
Final admissions decision and ATCAS voucher generated from North Park faculty first week of April
Prerequisites for North Park’s MSAT program completed at UIC
Transfer credits approved by UIC to meet course requirements permitted
Benefits of the North Park UIC Admissions Partnership
Seamless transition: all UIC Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition courses meet MSAT admission requirements
Simple application: admission fees are waived for selected UIC graduates
Strong foundation: UIC Kinesiology science-based curriculum prepares students for MSAT program
Pre-health advising: customized to assist students in their academic journey
At the forefront of North Park’s innovative curriculum is Dr. Suzen Moeller, Associate Professor of Nursing Health Sciences, whose contact tracing course offered this spring focuses on the current COVID-19 pandemic.
At the forefront of North Park’s innovative curriculum is Dr. Suzen Moeller, Associate Professor of Nursing Health Sciences, whose contact tracing course offered this spring focuses on the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Suzen Moeller
During this accessible online quad A course, students will learn about the spread of the virus, effective strategies to manage infectious disease epidemics—including the role that contact tracing plays in protecting health in communities—and the different methods of contact tracing. Going beyond what most contact tracing courses teach, Dr. Moeller’s course covers the ethical side of contact tracing, how to talk about contact tracing, as well as the effects that the pandemic has on mental health.
While the focus of the contact tracing course is not on technology, Dr. Moeller plans on teaching students about new apps that are being developed in relation to the process.
“This course is particularly timely and relevant as public health departments around the country and the entire globe are training more people to do contact tracing,” said Dr. Moeller.
Students can anticipate gaining a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic by collaborating with North Park’s contact tracing team to practice mock contact tracing calls. The course will also offer students practical experience to highlight when applying for internships, volunteer positions, or paid positions as contact tracers.
The course’s primary goal is to help students better understand why contact tracing is one of the most powerful tools in public health for managing infectious disease epidemics. “Hopefully, this will help us be more receptive to contact tracing and to advocate to others about the importance of contact tracing. This way we can collectively better manage this pandemic and similar ones in the future,” said Dr. Moeller.
As a North Park alum, C’07 G’11, Duffy already had first-hand experience with the quality of education from the School of Nursing. With two degrees earned from North Park, applying to the DNP program was a simple choice. “I would do it all again at North Park,” said Duffy.
Jennifer Duffy always knew that should North Park offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, it would be no question that she would choose North Park to pursue her degree. As a North Park alum, C’07 G’11 G’20, Duffy already had first-hand experience with the quality of education from the School of Nursing. With two degrees earned from North Park, applying to the DNP program was a simple choice—she thrived in the small, personal, and supportive environment that extended into the doctorate program. “I would do it all again at North Park,” said Duffy.
Jennifer Duffy
The online program, in place prior to COVID-19, worked well for Duffy. “There were no issues, even though the DNP is a new program,” said Duffy. “The faculty always had their plans set up prior to class starting,” added Duffy.
Now working in the Cancer Center at a Chicago area medical center, Duffy’s goals of making a difference in quality improvement measures within palliative care have come to fruition. While engaged in the DNP program, Duffy decided to focus her project on Increasing Advance Directive Completion in Cancer Patients in Outpatient Palliative Care.
“I had all the tools and support I needed to complete my project with success,” said Duffy. Guided by DNP faculty advisor Dr. Trudy DeWaters, faculty consultant Dr. Janice Zeller, and site mentor Dr. Nooshig Salvador, Duffy was able to achieve measurable results with her DNP project.
Advance directives, a term referring to families, patients, and providers making important decisions in a health-related crisis, is an area that Duffy found needed attention especially within palliative care. Recognizing the burden families and healthcare providers encounter when making emergency and quality of life decisions such as do-not-resuscitate (DNR), Duffy homed in on facilitating these conversations through the use of a discussion template.
When Duffy first started the project, the advance directives completion rate was a low 12% and by the time Duffy developed and implemented a discussion template, the completion rate jumped to 67%.
With her DNP degree in hand, Duffy is continuing her work facilitating and documenting these essential discussions between nurses and patients. She also plans to submit her manuscript to a nursing journal for publication and as a long-term goal, Duffy intends to give back and teach the next generation of nurses.
Through the cross-disciplinary lenses of history and science, Professor and Lecturer in History Peter Olfelt and Associate Professor of Biology Drew Rholl, shared their expertise to offer an innovative curriculum teaching North Park students about pandemics.
Through the cross-disciplinary lenses of history and science, Professor and Lecturer in History Peter Olfelt and Associate Professor of Biology Drew Rholl, shared their expertise to offer an innovative curriculum teaching North Park students about pandemics.
Professor Olfelt teaches a hybrid class called Pandemics in History, where he juxtaposes three historical periods in the context of pandemics including the plague pandemics, the 1918 influenza outbreak, and AIDS. Students learn how pandemics have been perceived differently in these historical periods as well as the short-term and long-term effects the diseases have had on our society and culture.
Peter Olfelt, Professor and Lecturer in History
In the sciences, Dr. Rholl teaches about microbes, how they grow, and how they affect the human body in his online course, Advanced Topics in Biology: Pandemics. With a specialized focus on the spread of diseases, the course explores the nature of organisms that cause disease, what different diseases look like, how they can be treated, and how the body is working.
Although the classes are not synchronous, students engage with both the history and science perspectives through shared video presentations. “The courses were designed to leverage the experience of each group so they could build off of each other,” said Dr. Rholl.
Integrated into the curriculum is the biology of the disease and its history. “To really dig into the nature of the disease, where it comes from, how it spreads, and the various strains of it, I find that that has made my classes even better,” said Professor Olfelt.
As a smaller environment, North Park’s close-knit community fosters cross-departmental relationships and collaboration among faculty and students. “Sometimes when we’re siloed in our own fields, we suffer from blind spots, which basically means that as a microbiologist I don’t know what history instructors don’t know. By having a conversation, we can identify those questions and have a much more effective transfer of ideas,” said Dr. Rholl.
Professor Olfelt says students are responding well to the collaborative curriculum, and it has boosted student engagement. “When we’re studying various diseases and looking at newspaper articles or papers, it’s easy to engage the class with how this relates to their own personal experience,” says Professor Olfelt, who’s excited to be teaching at this particular moment in time.
Thanks to the collaboration between Professor Olfelt and Dr. Rholl, these innovative courses are creating additional learning opportunities for students to make connections between the classroom and real-world experiences.
Amid the pandemic, Andersonville resident and North Park employee Kristine Aronsson has launched a fundraising effort for a handful of local Swedish businesses, including North Park’s beloved Tre Kronor restaurant.
Amid the pandemic, Andersonville resident and North Park employee Kristine Aronsson has launched a fundraising effort for a handful of local Swedish businesses, including North Park’s beloved Tre Kronor restaurant.
Aronsson, Director of Advising for Advanced Education in the Health Professions, recognized that the ban on indoor dining was having a devastating effect on local Swedish businesses. So, she started GoFundMe campaigns for Tre Kronor and Andersonville’s Svea Restaurant and neighboring Simon’s Tavern.
Her efforts were noticed by Block Club Chicago, whose subsequent article noted that many of Andersonville’s stalwart Swedish businesses, including the Swedish Bakery and two delicatessens, have closed in recent years. The loss of Swedish businesses is especially hard because the neighborhood is steeped in Swedish tradition.
Author lcpostrobinsonPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Stories
Energetic, passionate, and positive, Jelitsa Legarreta, G’18, has carved out a niche in the highly competitive health and beauty space. Inspired by her family matriarchs, and with her own young daughter serving as the benchmark for safety and efficacy, Legarreta distributes her good-for-you facial products at boutiques and via her e-commerce website. Legarreta’s Latina-founded skin care brand, 
