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.
North Park Senior Renee Baker is nominated for the prestigious Glenn T. Seaborg Science Scholarship after completing an internship with NASA.
North Park Senior Renee Baker has been nominated for the prestigious Glenn T. Seaborg Science Scholarship, an honor bestowed upon an outstanding natural science major at one of the six colleges recognized by the Swedish Council of America as a Swedish Heritage College. North Park is recognized as such an institution because of its active connection with modern Scandinavia, via its language studies and academic exchange programs.
“I’m so incredibly honored to be nominated for this scholarship,” said Baker, an environmental science major, of the award named for the famed Swedish chemist.
She’s certainly worthy: while many college kids spend their break on the beach or working a part-time job, Baker was doing test flights with NASA. Last summer, Baker spent two months in California interning with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, tagging along on plane rides, collecting atmospheric data and learning how various instruments worked.
The Carol Stream, Illinois native actually applied for the NASA internship on something of a whim. “I honestly just got an email from [chemistry professor] Dr. Rienstra-Kiracofe, and I applied because, why not?” Baker says. Rienstra-Kiracofe provided a letter of recommendation, and the next thing Baker knew, she was on her way to Irvine, Ca.
In addition to the flying experience, Baker spent several weeks on campus at the University of California, Irvine, where she learned how to use tools to perform remote sensing and took a trip to the Jet Propulsion Lab. At the end of the internship, she and her group presented to a group of NASA employees and fellow students.
Ultimately, Baker, a physics minor, plans to pursue a career in alternative energy and biomimicry engineering, a field of science that seeks sustainable solutions to human-generated problems by copying patterns in nature. For instance, scientists who specialize in biomimicry are testing new plumbing and electric systems that mimic the branch-like structure of trees and leaves, as they may be more efficient than pipes positioned at right angles.
Baker will find out in March if she has won the coveted Seaborg prize, which includes airfare to Sweden, a living stipend, and participation in December’s Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar, a weeklong series of events arranged in connection with Nobel Peace Prize activities.
North Park Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.
North Park Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.
The space is called Richard’s Renaissance Room, a nod to Carlson’s devotion to a variety of pursuits, from history to baseball, Civil Rights, poetry, and biblical scholarship. Carlson’s wife, Jolene Bergstrom Carlson, said her husband also loved spending time with his children and spent his life fighting against societal hatred and violence.
“Richard especially had a head and heart for racial justice, lamenting over racial injustices until his final moments,” Jolene said. “To Richard, all people belonged and had worth.”
The Richard Renaissance Room, designed as a place to read, pray, and connect with others, is being furnished by $30,000 in private donations to the Seminary. The money also provides tuition assistance via the Richard and Jolene Carlson Scholarship Fund to a seminarian whose studies focus on justice issues.
“Richard was brilliant, but he never used his mind as anything but a tool to encourage his students to engage with the complexities of faith and life through thoughtful questions and readings,” Jolene Carlson said.
The dedication took place Jan. 24, during the ECC’s Midwinter Conference.
To donate to the fund, visit https://connect.northpark.edu/give, select “other” and include “Richard Carlson Memorial Fund” in the comment box to designate your giving. You may also mail checks to North Park University’s Development Office:
North Park University
Development Box 6
3225 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625.
January 15th, North Park University will present an MLK Jr. Celebration featuring Gospel Recording Artist Corey Barksdale and Chicago Activist Sherida Morrison.
On January 15th, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, North Park University’s Black Student Union Group will present an inspirational presentation commemorating Dr. King’s fight for justice and peace.
MLK Jr.’s own words will serve as the inspiration for the event: “The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood.”
Chicago’s leaders work to restore justice North Park University is committed to supporting Chicago’s diversity and embracing leaders who have demonstrated restorative justice. Like King, Morrison and Hodge each believe in nonviolent methods of pursuing social justice.
Keynote speaker Sherida Morrison is the founder of Demoiselle2Femme, a female empowerment group. Through the non-profit, Morrison has developed “a community-based model encouraging the avoidance of at-risk behaviors as a strategy for success while empowering girls with the hope of accomplishing their educational and professional goals through self-discipline, hard work, commitment and service to their community.”
North Park’s Hodge, assistant professor of intercultural communication, is a recognized urban youth culture expert and cultural literacy scholar. He will also honor the legacy and racial justice work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. His presentation is titled “No Church in the Wild: Christianity, White Supremacy, Black Liberation and Hip Hop.”
In addition to MLK day, North Park’s Office of Diversity Director Jacqueline Horbrook works continuously with the community, faculty, staff, and students to “be disciplined in our demeanor in not being divisive, to continue to do better, and strive for peace at the forefront—with peace being what MLK fought for.”
The service will be held at 10 a.m. in Anderson Chapel and the celebration will be live-streamed at www.northpark.edu.
Nearly 300 students received undergraduate and graduate degrees during North Park University’s Winter Commencement Convocation Friday, Dec. 15.
President Carl Balsam presided over North Park University’s Winter Commencement Convocation Friday, Dec. 15, in which nearly 300 students received undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In his remarks, Balsam challenged graduates to do justice and show mercy in their lives after college. He also kicked off his address with a well-received joke about tuition.
“When I was told I was responsible for something called the ‘charge to graduates,’ my initial thought was, haven’t we charged them enough?” Balsam said to wide-spread laughter and applause.
Then, Balsam offered the graduates a message of “encouragement and challenge,” noting that the current job market is strong, especially for those with college degrees. He then urged graduates to show mercy by “making things right not just for yourselves, but others.”
He noted that many students had stood with fellow DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students whose status as citizens was being challenged. Students should continue to fight for such social justice issues upon graduation, he said.
The Ahnfeldt Medallion for academic excellence was presented to Thomas H. Cellilli IV, who majored in Biblical and Theological Studies and earned a 3.969 grade point average. Board President Christine Strand awarded Cellilli the Medallion, noting his “gift of leadership” as well as his many extracurricular activities while at North Park, including coaching a middle school baseball team.
Following Christmas hymns, scripture readings and a charge to students by Balsam and Provost Michael O. Emerson, diplomas were handed out by Emerson, followed by cheers from family and friends in the audience.
A reception for graduates was held in Hamming Hall following commencement.
North Park senior and US veteran Nico Canete shares about his prized internship with Governor Bruce Rauner’s re-election campaign.
Nine months before he came to North Park University, senior Nico Canete was on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf launching air strikes against ISIS as a member of the U.S. Navy.
So it’s not surprising that when he arrived on campus as a vet, Canete was instrumental in recovering a long-lost plaque honoring North Parkers who served in World War II. Along with Dr. John Laukaitis, assistant professor of education, Canete successfully lobbied to have the plaque prominently displayed on campus.
Veterans, and service to country in general, are important to Canete, who recently branched out into politics, beating out dozens of other applicants to land an internship with Governor Bruce Rauner’s re-election campaign.
“I’m really looking forward to all the experience I’m getting by working on a major political campaign,” said Canete, a politics and government major.
It’s experience he hopes to apply to his own future, potentially as an elected official.
“I do hope to run for office someday, but if I do, I imagine it would be on the local or state level, such as a school board, town council or as a state representative,” said Canete, who is from Northwest Indiana.
“But if I were elected, I would be intentional about only serving a maximum of two terms, as I do not believe in being a career politician or getting rich off of public service.”
After applying for the internship, Canete went through a few interviews before being offered the job. Working since October in Rauner’s downtown headquarters, he performs tasks like analyzing media clips for the communications team and verifies the legitimacy of campaign petitions using an online database.
In addition, Canete is the president of Pi Sigma Alpha, NPU’s chapter of the national political honor society; organizes events for the Student Veteran Association; and is a resident assistant in one of the campus apartment buildings. He spends his free time reading the Wall Street Journal, working out, or hanging out with his fiancée.
Canete, who graduates in May, hopes to end up in public relations, business operations, or law enforcement.
Whatever path he chooses, he said he will be forever influenced by his time at North Park, which he chose in part because of its dedication to service, and by his professors, including history lecturer Dr. Michael Johnson.
“His World War II class opened my eyes to the study of history, and the importance of understanding it so that we may draw closer to truth, learning lessons and developing solutions to challenges in the future,” Canete said.
North Park celebrated its tenth annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
North Park celebrated its tenth annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, December 3, featuring performances by the North Park University Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble and Chamber Singers.
Other performers included the NPU Orchestra and the Women’s Chorale, as well as the People’s Music School and YOURS Orchestra Members from Hibbard Elementary School in Albany Park.
This year’s program, Worship Christ the Newborn King, washeld at St. Hilary Catholic Church and, following tradition, featured music performed in several different languages. Interim University President Carl Balsam began the service with the opening prayer.
The lessons, mixed between songs, were read by North Park faculty, staff, and students, as well as members of St. Hilary Catholic Church.
First held on Christmas Eve in 1918 in Cambridge, England, the Festival of Lessons and Carols service comes from the Anglican tradition. In such services, music is interspersed between Scripture readings that tell the story of Christ, from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus.
The second annual Taste of the Pacific event featured singing, dancing, and storytelling celebrating the heritage of North Park University’s Pacific Islander students.
More than 100 students and faculty members attended the second annual Taste of the Pacific event December 1, a festival featuring singing, dancing and storytelling that celebrated the heritage of North Park University’s Pacific Islander students.
“We are far away from home, but we have created a home here; we’re not a club, we’re a family,” said Rakiiba Va’alele, one of the founders of the Pacific Cultural Association, the group that put on the event.
The performances were designed to showcase the cultures of several Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa.
“God and family—in that order—is the way of Polynesian Culture,” said Michael Conway, the event’s honorary speaker and also NPU’s head football coach. Conway and his wife, Beth, NPU’s project manager for student engagement, are longtime supporters of the PCA. “I’m thankful for you all, and I’m thankful for these young people.”
Throughout the night, students used song and dance to tell stories of their island nations’ cultures. Performers dressed in traditional garb, changing each time the audience “traveled” along to another island.
According to founders Va’alele and Leautea Faiai, the PCA’s vision is to see the Pacific Islander Community at North Park connected, empowered, and cared for academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
The event was sponsored by the Office of Diversity and the Student Government Association. A portion of the proceeds from the $7 admission price went toward NPU’s tuition assistance fund for Pacific Islander students.
SGA Vice President, Anosh Wasker, said the event showcases the best of NPU.
“Events like these bring out what North Park stands for, which is being multi-cultural,” Wasker said at the end of the night. “They show their own culture, they preserve their own culture, but also help others experience their culture.”
As University Dean, Dr. Liza Ann Acosta’s hope is to facilitate the work of faculty development—with a student body comprised of a diverse population and mirrored by a diverse faculty.
“I am invested in the wellbeing of my students and my colleagues. Being asked to do more with little is overwhelming, but my colleagues’ dreams for our students are on my mind every single day. My wish is to make those become real possibilities. An investment in our faculty is an investment in our students.”
Facilitating Faculty Development
As University Dean, Dr. Liza Ann Acosta’s hope is to facilitate the work of faculty development—with a student body comprised of a diverse population and mirrored by a diverse faculty, so that all our students can see themselves reflected in the people who teach them. A new mentorship program for first-year and ongoing rising faculty and a partnership with the Faculty Senate and Office of Institutional Effectiveness for the inclusion of adjunct faculty development are among the initiatives supporting Dean Acosta’s vision of having a well-rounded, diverse faculty at North Park.
Retention and Recruitment of Faculty of Color
Dean Acosta has initiated efforts to more effectively recruit and retain faculty of color who can and do impact the student learning experience through expertise, mentorship, and role-modeling. In these efforts, Dean Acosta advises and serves on search committees, advocates for faculty and staff of color, and leads monthly meetings for faculty and staff of color for community-building.
Helping Students Have an Enriching Intercultural Experience
Dean Acosta is encouraged every day by North Park students as she observes them make connections between classroom and world. “Preparing students to contribute in real possible ways—through the arts, life sciences, technology—is what we seek at North Park, with faculty who have a passion for planting a seed and watching students grow.”
At North Park, Dean Acosta continues to teach, advise, and mentor students. She is also part of the Council on Diversity Equity and Inclusion whose central role includes bias reporting. “I am always thinking of ways that North Park’s faculty, as a collective, can be even better in their respective specialty fields, and how we can help students have an enriching, intercultural experience,” said Dean Acosta. Academic programs are structured in a way to reflect both a rigorous learning experience in the classroom and experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom when engaging how the diverse city of Chicago functions and thrives.
Core principles guide Dean Acosta: encouraging creativity, providing resources for continuous improvement and innovation, documenting and learning from best practices in research and teaching, advocating for a diverse faculty, and nurturing professional development for all faculty members. Meeting the needs of both students and faculty is an ongoing process—a role that for Dean Acosta is always evolving.
Jonathan Almer C’91, utilizes both his liberal arts and physics education in research involving a 1,800-year-old mummy.
Jonathan Almer, C’91, recently welcomed a 1,800-year-old mummy to his office for the day.
Of course, Almer, a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory, doesn’t have your average desk job. As part of his work there running the Advanced Photon Source (APS)—a highly sophisticated X-Ray machine—he conducted an in-depth examination of the mummy, believed to contain the body of a 5-year-old Egyptian girl.
“We’re hoping our data will help us better understand details of her bone tissue, and her teeth,” said Almer, who majored in physics at North Park and received his PhD in material sciences from Northwestern University in 1998. “This kind of information will help us enrich the historic context of the mummy as well as the Roman period in Egypt.”
Almer’s expertise with Argonne’s APS allowed him and his partner, Northwestern Prof. Stuart Stock, to peer into the mummy at a high resolution, and “in a non-destructive way,” Almer said.
The mummy is one of only 100 so-called “portrait mummies” in existence. Such mummies feature life-like paintings of the deceased person’s face. This particular mummy is owned by Northwestern University and will be on display for several months in 2018 at the school’s Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Almer and Stock’s fascinating research was featured in a recent Chicago Tribune article.
Almer credits his North Park education with sparking his sense of curiosity.
“My physics courses were challenging but sometimes even fun, thanks to Linda McDonald,” said Almer, of the longtime NPU physics professor.
“North Park provided an excellent basis for my career,” Almer said. “The strong overall liberal arts focus at North Park meant I took a much broader set of courses than most of my colleagues I’ve worked with since.”
Almer also joked, “Such broad-based knowledge helps personal development in a myriad of ways, but also provides practical benefits such as communication skills which, let’s face it, scientists could use more of.”
The excitement on campus continues to build as North Park’s men’s soccer team leaves Wednesday for their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Four in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The excitement on campus continues to build as North Park’s men’s soccer team leaves Wednesday for their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Four in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“What an amazing time for North Park,” said President Carl Balsam, who plans to make the trip to cheer on the team in person. “This Viking men’s soccer team has surpassed every milestone for their program, and they aren’t done yet.”
The 20-1-1 Vikings will face off against regional rivals University of Chicago on Friday at 6:30 p.m. NPU defeated the Maroons 1-0 in their one regular season match-up. The winner of that game goes on to face either Messiah College or Brandeis University in the National Championship game Saturday.
“The team has been training hard in practice and has had an amazing focus about them,” Head Coach John Born said. “They are an extremely close-knit and competitive group.”
While Born and the team respect the talent and experience of the other three squads in the tournament, the Vikings have a clear goal.
“We aren’t just pleased to be there, we intend to make our own history this weekend,” Born said.
Athletic Director Jack Surridge, who is also making the trip, says “this is a significant weekend in the history of North Park Athletics and another chapter in a series of achievements in men’s soccer.”
NPU is providing a fan bus for students who’d like to cheer in person for the team, which boasts a diverse, international roster, with players from as far as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England, and as close as Chicago, Michigan, and Minnesota. One player hails from neighboring Von Stuben Metro Science High School.
“We appreciate the fine way in which this team represents our university and we wish them every success as they pursue a national championship,” Balsam said.
Born said he and the team have been overwhelmed by the support of the North Park community.
“We are extremely humbled and grateful,” Born said. “We will do our best to make you all proud.”
North Park Senior Renee Baker has been nominated for the prestigious Glenn T. Seaborg Science Scholarship, an honor bestowed upon an outstanding natural science major at one of the six colleges recognized by the Swedish Council of America as a Swedish Heritage College. North Park is recognized as such an institution because of its active connection with modern Scandinavia, via its language studies and academic exchange programs.
Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Profile, Stories
The performances were designed to showcase the cultures of several Pacific Island nations, including Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa.
According to founders Va’alele and Leautea Faiai, the PCA’s vision is to see the Pacific Islander Community at North Park connected, empowered, and cared for academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
SGA Vice President, Anosh Wasker, said the event showcases the best of NPU.
