May 16, 2017—North Park University celebrated Gathering Day Spring 2017. Faculty and staff gathered in Hamming Hall to socialize, enjoy lunch together, and recognize the years of service of long-time educators and leading administrators who will soon enter the next phase in their lives–retirement. President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty and staff alum: Whipp Johnson, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to North Park University.
Some Background on the Faculty and Staff Alum
Whipp Johnson
Dr. Johnson loves to teach, and in the second half of his career he discovered that he also loves to instruct others to teach.
Following 25 years of teaching social studies in high schools in Maryland and Illinois, Dr. Johnson came to North Park in 2007 as a member of the faculty in the School of Education.
Dr. Johnson views teaching as a combination of practice, profession, and calling. As a teacher of prospective teachers, he takes time in his classroom to develop in his students a bonded commitment to hard work and persistence. He is fond of telling his students: “The journey to the other side of the desk will challenge you in unexpected ways. At the same time, it’s a journey well worth making because of the difference you can make in the lives of students.”
Carol Martin
Dr. Martin’s calling in life brought her to North Park in 2003 as professor of communication arts, yet her students know her best, and love her most deeply, as director of the writing center.
Dr. Martin leaves a legacy of strong writing advisors with majors from across the whole of our academic program. She is called on often for counsel, is colleague to many—and especially colleague to her students.
Dr. Martin’s expert contribution to teaching at North Park was recognized a year ago with presentation of the Zenos Hawkinson Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Mary Adams Trujillo
Dr. Trujillo has served as professor of communication arts at North Park since 2003. Her courses build on a belief that a combination of service, experiential learning, and cultural immersion helps students engage with the world—starting with the city of Chicago.
Dr. Trujillo’s primary interest, and her scholarly expertise, is in conflict transformation. Throughout her teaching in this area Dr. Trujillo promotes opportunities for cultures and communities to meet—within the classroom and far beyond. One example comes from her course in Conflict Transformation, in which she brings together 24 high school students to a retreat with her North Park students to nurture within all an understanding of how to transform violent environments.
Dr. Trujillo’s scholarship is well-illustrated through a volume she co-edited in 2008 with colleagues from across the country, a book titled Re-Centering: Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice.
Rupe Simms
Dr. Simms joined North Park University as professor of Africana studies in 1997. He brought with him an impressive set of academic credentials: two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and two doctorates.
Dr. Simms has taught many students what it means to have our voice, our story, and our identity, validated – which has uplifted students through their educational journey at North Park, and has encouraged many of his colleagues.
In Dr. Simms’ classroom, students expanded their worldviews, along with their understanding of social injustice and the discrimination that groups of Americans experience because of race, class, or gender. To reach these outcomes, Dr. Simms has always built on Chicago as classroom, infusing student learning with the current culture and long history connecting African Americans and Mexican Americans to the city.
Dr. Simms’ scholarship is centered on the politics of religion in the history of African people, as well as the sociopolitical and religious experiences of Afro-Americans and Mexican-Americans. In 2010 Rupe wrote a substantial text on these topics, A Gramscian Analysis of the Role of Religion and Politics: Case Studies in Domination, Accommodation, and Resistance.
Dr. Jay Phelan
Dr. Phelan finds it is easy to divide seminaries into the categories of “academic” or “practical.” One prepares for ministry through a rigorously intellectual process without the life of the church. The other is a training program that teaches “how,” but not “why.” As a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, Dr. Phelan knows the value of theological education, particularly in the serious study of the biblical text. He came to North Park because he believes their Theological Seminary has found a way to combine both. According to Dr. Phelan, “The intellectual, the practical, and the spiritual come together here. And I wanted to be a part of this process of engaging text and culture.”
Having served as the Seminary’s dean of students from 1981 to 1986, Dr. Phelan then returned in 1996. He served as the seminary’s president and dean until 2010, when he became a full-time faculty member. Dr. Phelan oversaw the Seminary’s chapel program. “Worshiping together is critical,” says Dr. Phelan. “This is a place where we come to pray, sing, break bread, and celebrate.” From 2010-2017, Dr. Phelan served as Senior Professor of Theological Studies.
Les Carlstrom
Les Carlstrom graduated from North Park in 1976 and returned to North Park in December 1990 as Controller and Director of Finance. The need for good financial accounting and controls were paramount, and Les’ arrival proved to be an incredible blessing.
Over the intervening years, Les has demonstrated keen financial acumen, keeping impeccable financial records and executing financial policy and financing initiatives with unusual skill. “Les’ high character and commitment to North Park’s mission will be remembered, and he has always remained a kind, respectful, and compassionate professional,” says Executive Vice President Carl Balsam and Les’ close colleague during his entire time at North Park. His Business Office colleagues would describe Les as a joy with which to work. Les has had an amazing, maybe historic, run as controller of North Park University. “We are incredibly blessed by Les’ presence with us these past 26 years” expresses Executive Vice President Carl Balsam.