When North Park University (NPU) and North Park Theological Seminary faculty envision bold new projects to enhance student learning or engagement, they rarely take the journey alone. Alongside them walk Director of Sponsored Projects Renee Cox and Senior Grants Accountant Chris Bakker MBA ’25, the small powerhouse behind the scenes dedicated to helping those big ideas come to life.

Cox handles what she calls the “pre-award” side of things. She’s the first stop for faculty searching for grants, guiding them as they draft proposals and navigate complex requirements. “It’s their project; they know it best,” she explained, “but we help with budgets, guidelines, and approvals so their ideas can move forward.”

Once a proposal is funded, Bakker takes over. He manages the “post-award” work: tracking expenses, filing reports, and ensuring each grant stays in compliance. His role frees faculty to focus on the heart of their work. “If a professor knows everything about biology but nothing about procurement, that’s where I come in,” he said with a smile.

Their collaboration has helped fuel tremendous growth. NPU now manages more than 20 active grants, ranging from National Science Foundation projects in STEM education to Lilly Endowment initiatives in ministry and seminary life. More than 90 students have received support from grants in the form of student wages for research or grant-related work, stipends, or grant-funded scholarships in 2024–25.

However, navigating the current landscape hasn’t been without challenges. Political uncertainty, shifting federal budgets, and executive orders paused certain projects this year. Thankfully, many were later green-lighted.

Cox and Bakker have relied on their colleagues in the Provost’s and Business Offices, along with strong professional networks and careful planning, to stay ahead. “Even with regulations and funding changes, we focus on what matters: student impact,” Cox noted.

Some of the most meaningful projects are not the largest but the most personal. One state-funded grant provided food, housing, and technology to students facing financial insecurity. For Cox and Bakker, seeing a grant directly meet basic student needs underscores the real-world power of their work.

“Those stories remind us why our work matters,” Cox said. Together, she and Bakker form the bridge between vision and reality—partners in ensuring that North Park’s mission is lived out in tangible ways. Their collaborative work demonstrates how faculty-driven innovation, carefully managed and executed, transforms student lives.