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.
After 125 years, we’ve learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don’t see what you’re 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’s mission and alumni needs.
Shout out to North Park’s Director of Campus Safety, a home workout routine from Helwig, and more music to keep our spirits lifted.
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected! If you have anything to share with the North Park community, please reach out and email us at UMC@northpark.edu. We’d love to hear from you and share how all of us are doing while we are apart.
Employee Thank You
Keep Calm and Viking On! Like Dan Gooris, North Park’s Director of Campus Safety and Auxiliary Services. Thanks, Dan, for keeping the campus safe during this time of uncertainty.
NPU Social
As we begin adjusting to this new normal and find ourselves missing NPU a little extra, let’s take time to connect on social media! Our various departments have been hard at work creating daily devotionals, musical playlists, and helpful content like this home workout routine from our Helwig team:
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, people are doing kind things for others, even for complete strangers. If you have been helped, or you have witnessed others going out of their way to help, let us know! Send your short stories to UMC@northpark.edu, and put Good News in the subject field. We’ll share them here.
Sharing Viking Spirit
We’ve got North Park spirit! Yes, we do! We’ve got spirit! How about you?
Staff members in the Office of Advancement participated in a #BlueandGoldWednesday car parade around the North Park neighborhood. Have you seen or participated in a car parade in your neighborhood?
Annie Picard has been at NPU since 1998, teaching our undergraduate and Master of Music students voice lessons and classes. To encourage us now, she has selected music about connection: connection to our earth, emotions, beautiful sounds, joie de vivre, amazing musicians, words, nature, freedom, and peace.
“When I want to feel ‘cool’ I put this on. It never disappoints!”
Faculty and Staff Virtual Prayer Time
All faculty and staff are welcome to a special time of virtual prayer for our beloved North Park family every Wednesday, 11:30 am–12:30 pm via Zoom. If you have any questions please contact Prof. Boaz Johnson.
These are times of great angst among our students and colleagues. During times like this, Jesus always took his disciples aside to pray, as in his hour of deepest suffering, during the Passion Week. He said, “Watch and Pray.”
Scripture of the Week
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
This video was curated by the School of Restorative Arts redemptive storytelling cohort (re)story in collaboration with seminary alumnae Alicia Reese and Cheryl Lynn Cain.
Stations of the Cross: This video was curated by the School of Restorative Arts redemptive storytelling cohort (re)story in collaboration with seminary alumnae Alicia Reese and Cheryl Lynn Cain.
As we enter Holy Week isolated, alone, and confined to our homes, could there be a better time to reflect upon the modern day equivalent of the cross and the experiences of those who know it best. Join us in this journey through the Stations of the Cross and the stories of those who sit closest to where Jesus would be if Good Friday were today.
We thank all the friends and faculty of the School of Restorative Arts who took the time to give voice to these stories, Pastor Cheryl Lynn Cain and Pastor Alicia Reese for compiling this resource. And we thank Jess Fogel for production and editing.
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected!
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected! If you have anything to share with the North Park community, please reach out and email us at UMC@northpark.edu. We’d love to hear from you and share how all of us are doing while we are apart.
Employee Thank You!
Keep Calm and Viking On . . . Like Meghan Pillow, North Park’s nurse. Meghan has continued working from home and on campus when necessary, monitoring the health of students and staff who remain on campus. Thanks, Meghan!
Let’s Thank Our Alumni in Health Care
So many North Park alumni are serving as doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals on the front lines of this pandemic—and we want to encourage and thank them. If you have stories about North Parkers who are serving in this way, or if you are one, and want to tell a story or send a photo or a video message, please send them to UMC@northpark.edu and we will share them here.
NPU Social
As we begin adjusting to this new normal and find ourselves missing NPU a little extra, let’s take time to connect on social media! Our various departments have been hard at work creating daily devotionals, sample workout routines, musical playlists, and helpful content like this DIY Face Mask video:
For more encouraging content like this, give us a follow on these Instagram accounts:
Annie Picard has been at NPU since 1998, teaching our undergraduate and Master of Music students voice lessons and classes. To encourage us now, she has selected music about connection: connection to our earth, emotions, beautiful sounds, joie de vivre, amazing musicians, words, nature, freedom, and peace.
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, people are doing kind things for others, even for complete strangers. If you have been helped, or you have witnessed others going out of their way to help, let us know! Send your short stories to UMC@northpark.edu, and put Good News in the subject field. We’ll share them here.
This week—Andy Meyer, Director of Archives at North Park, searched the archives store of supplies and found a handful of gloves, cleaning supplies and N95 masks that will be donated to Swedish Hospital. Thanks to everyone who is donating PPE!
Community Questions
How are you staying connected with your professors and peers?
Any tips to share with our community on working and/or studying from home?
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
A Q&A guide for students regarding transition to virtual instruction and housing updates.
For ongoing updates regarding COVID-19 and how it affects North Park’s campus, please visit www.northpark.edu/covid-19.
Q&A for Students Regarding COVID-19 on North Park Campus
Q: I’m a residential student – what do I need to do? A:ALL RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS must complete the Resident Student Registry Form. This form must be completed prior to Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 10pm. Students who believe they have a compelling reason to return to campus housing should provide a thorough explanation as to why on the form. Students will be notified via email of the status of their application as soon as possible.
Q: How and when can I get my belongings from my on-campus housing? A: For safety and security purposes, please contact your Resident Director via email prior to returning to campus. You may return to campus any time between now and Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 10pm to collect your belongings, including academic materials and personal items. You may not stay overnight in your campus housing during this window of time without prior approval from your Resident Director or the Office of Residence Life and Housing. If you have a reason to remain in campus housing overnight between now and Sunday, March 15, 2020, please note this request on the Resident Student Registry Form. Access to the residence halls, apartments, and houses will not be available after Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 10pm.
Q: What if I need to stay on campus because I’m an international student, or I am student teaching, or I have no other place to stay? A: Please fill out the Resident Student Registry Form and explain your current situation. The University will review your case and try to accommodate special circumstances. We will respond to your request by Tuesday, March 17.
Q: Will planned student activities still be taking place? A: Most campus activities, including all Catalyst and Chapel events, have been postponed or canceled. This decision is in keeping with CDC recommendations that large, non-essential gatherings be suspended or canceled. As this is a fluid situation, please check here for updates as specific event dates approach.
Q: I’m a commuter student. Will I be able to use campus facilities during the next few weeks? A: We hope to keep some facilities open, but as this is an ever-changing situation, facility availability might change on a daily basis. Please, check back here for updates.
Q: How will online instruction work? A: Starting today, and through April 9, there will be no more in-person classes. All coursework will be conducted online. Your professors will use Canvas to keep you informed, and will notify you via email about how your course will be structured, and what you can expect in terms of assignments and tests.
Q: How do I stay updated on how COVID-19 and its impact on North Park’s campus? A: Security, support services, and staff will remain on campus to assist you throughout this challenging period. Please reach out to individual departments for any assistance you might need. In addition, we will be making constant updates on this webpage. Please monitor email and social media as well. Thank you for your patience on this matter. Please consult the Faculty and Staff directory to find contact information.
Like other universities in Chicago and across the nation – and based on the latest advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – North Park University has canceled all university-sponsored international spring break travel due to the rapidly evolving nature of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
North Park Cancels International Spring Break Trips Due to COVID-19 Virus
Check back here for future updates about the COVID-19 virus and how it is affecting North Park University’s students, faculty, and staff.
March 5, 2020: Like other universities in Chicago and across the nation – and based on the latest advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – North Park University has canceled all university-sponsored international spring break travel due to the rapidly evolving nature of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
Domestic travel will take place as planned.
Health Advice
There are simple actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. It cannot be emphasized enough that good self-care habits are vitally important, including:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Wash your hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
Cover your cough with your sleeve, not your hands
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
Don’t share food or drinks
If you get sick, stay home and rest
All daily operations on the campus will continue. The University will provide regular e-mail updates to students, faculty and staff.
North Park University has been named a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, a designation that recognizes North Park’s commitment to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students.
North Park University has been named a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, a designation that recognizes North Park’s commitment to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students.
“The Hispanic-Serving Institution distinction is an enviable one, sought by many institutions, and we are proud of this designation,” said North Park President Mary K. Surridge. “Most 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.”
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’s Government, Corporate, and Foundation Relations Manager. 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, North Park University Director of Diversity and Intercultural Life, says the designation underscores North Park’s commitment to diversity.
“North Park University 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,” Myricks said.
To become a designated HSI, an institution’s 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’s rapidly growing Hispanic population and to improve Hispanic students’ 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.
“I 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,” 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’s connections with Sweden. She’s grateful for being exposed to science here.
“I definitely feel like North Park has helped me have an appreciation for science,” 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.
“I feel that I’ve been really lucky in all the opportunities that I’ve 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,” 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 “Examining Racial Residential Segregation Through Public Transportation in Chicago.”
Dr. Purifoye completed field research by riding and studying six bus lines, two Metra lines, and two CTA lines for a few years.
“Doing that,” she says, “I paid attention to who was getting on, but also where the rides were going.” 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,” 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’s core values of being Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, she hopes to show that “justice is for everyone, and we all do better when we all do better.”
Dr. Purifoye recently presented “Examining Racial Residential Segregation Through Public Transportation in Chicago” 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.
“This is indeed a glorious moment,” President Surridge said. “Years of diligent work have led to this milestone; you have reason to be proud of your accomplishment.”
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 “is not afraid of hard work, but is also someone who sought to help others excel in their work as well.”
In addressing the graduates, President Surridge encouraged students to remember their professors, who “began praying for you literally before you arrived on campus,” and to cherish their time here.
“Look with joy upon your years here, celebrate this milestone night, and look forward with hope to the bright future,” 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, “I am going to get out of this slum, and when I grow up, I’m going to do something about it.” 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. “The word ‘Mary’ means suffering,” he explains, “one who endures bitterness.”
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—including Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Roman—Dr. Johnson discovered that the issues the #MeToo movement raises are not new, they have been persisting for thousands of years. “In all of these religions and civilizations,” he says, “women have always been taken advantage of.”
He emphasizes, though, that women have persevered throughout history. He discusses how women of the Bible—such as Tamar, Esther, Ruth, and the Marys—do not let themselves succumb to victimization. “The overarching principle is that the Bible takes those aspects which society would regard as weaknesses and transforms them into paradigms of strength.”
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—both 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, “My 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.”
Dr. Johnson’s book is published in India and the U.S. He has recently done book signings at Chicago-area Barnes and Noble stores.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Community Updates, Stories
