Initially overlooking a profession in teaching, Assistant Professor Nikki Flanagan became inspired to pursue teaching by a postcard from North Park that offered a master’s program with a teaching certification. Flanagan is grateful to have received the postcard, as she now expresses her passion by teaching students how to cultivate their strengths to become the best teachers they can be.

Preparing students for careers as educators, she hosts guest speakers to share valuable insights and creates hands-on simulations that equip students with a skillset of activities to use in their own classrooms. Flanagan not only keeps her courses current by staying up to date with the latest teaching requirements, but she works to present the most successful strategies for teaching as well.

“I love the people and the philosophy that North Park is built upon. When an organization is focused on putting Christ first, service to the community, and celebrating diversity, it is bound to attract wonderful people and do wonderful things for the world around it,” she says.