Tag: faculty

North Park Professor Discusses Gender Equity in the Bible for Podcast

Dr. Boaz Johnson was recently interviewed by a prominent Christian scholar about his work in making Bible translations more gender accurate to improve the depiction of women in the Bible.

Dr. Boaz Johnson, professor of biblical and theological studies, was recently interviewed by a prominent Christian scholar about his work in making Bible translations more gender accurate to improve the depiction of women in the Bible.

Dr. Mimi Hadad, president of Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE), spoke with Johnson about his work for the Mutuality Matters podcast in November 2023.

Hada lauded Johnson for highlighting the work of several women throughout history who have translated the Bible into their native language. One of those was Pandita Ramabai, an Indian woman who became a Christian as a young adult and was the first person to translate the Bible into her native dialect, Marathi. She inspired another woman, Dr. Katharine Bushnell, to join her cause to improve biblical translations that repeatedly depicted women as inferior to men.

Their pioneering work significantly helped in reducing sex trafficking and domestic abuse across India, Johnson said. The podcast is available on CBE’s website.

Author Kennedy MurphyPosted on Categories StoriesTags , ,

High School Visit Day

High School Visit Day is a great way to get a jump-start on your college search. Designed specifically for current high school sophomores, juniors, and their families. This is a great opportunity to discover North Park and see if it is the right fit for you.

Highlights:
-Explore our campus oasis on a tour led by North Park students
-Get all your questions answered about the college admissions process and financial aid
-Eat in our dining hall and get a glimpse of what life looks like as a Viking

RSVP

Event Schedule

February Viking Preview Day

Viking Preview Days offer you a firsthand taste of the North Park University experience by allowing you to connect with our community and learn about our vibrant student life. Viking Preview Days are an ideal opportunity for students to take the next step in their college journey and discover what makes North Park special.

Highlights:
-Attend “Coffee with Coaches” and learn more about Viking Athletics (optional)
-Explore our campus oasis on a tour led by North Park students
-Get all your questions answered about your admissions application and financial aid

RSVP

Event Schedule

North Park University Receives $166K Grant From NASA To Install Air Quality Sensors

North Park University will install sensors that detect weather and pollution patterns as part of a $166,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

North Park University will install sensors that detect weather and pollution patterns as part of a $166,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The sensors will be installed atop the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life on campus.

NASA awarded the five-year grant to North Park in part because of its federal status as a Hispanic Serving Institution, a school that is committed to equitable outcomes for Hispanic students. The two weather sensors will be installed by NASA this spring, and money from the grant will fund travel expenses and salaries for instructors and student workers. The equipment will be owned and maintained by NASA.

The grant was secured through the joint efforts of Assistant Professor of Chemistry John Randazzo and Director of Sponsored Projects Renee Cox. Only about 10 institutions across the country received the grant, and North Park is the lone Chicago site.

The environmental data gathered by the sensors will allow NASA researchers to monitor levels of atmospheric compounds such as carbon monoxide, along with particulate matters expelled by cars and factories. The data will also be compared to that acquired by satellites circling the earth to ensure accuracy. North Park students and professors will have access to that data, which will be transmitted directly into North Park’s classrooms.

“This is a powerful tool because it makes learning real,” Randazzo said. “The students can read the data and know that’s coming from just above their heads.”

Randazzo said the NASA grant was likely to raise North Park’s profile as a research university.

“Building a face-to-face relationship with NASA raises our credibility and increases future prospects,” Randazzo said, adding that a NASA engineer will be speaking on campus in March.

Dr. Randazzo said he and Cox found the grant opportunity on a NASA LISTSERV about a year ago, and although they ignore “99% of them” because they are not applicable, this particular grant struck them both because of North Park’s location and Randazzo’s background in atmospheric science.

The two worked together to apply for the grant, which they learned they’d won late last year. Read more press releases here.

Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories News, Press, StoriesTags , , , ,

Faculty Blog: Keep Calm, The Internet is Off

How can you disconnect & reconnect this holiday season? North Park faculty, Dr. Trevor James shares his thoughts.

How can you disconnect & reconnect this holiday season?

“The WIFI is out,” “I think the internet just went down,” “I don’t have any service,” “Can you hear me now?” These are common fears amongst many people in our world today as we strive to stay connected.

As a professor who teaches marketing and digital marketing in the School of Professional Studies at North Park University, I realize that we are dependent on our devices and many of us are connected 24/7. However, what if instead of panicking when the internet goes down, we looked at it as an opportunity? Like when the power goes out and you are forced to sit around a candle or lantern and play a board game, read a book, cuddle up with blankets and actually talk with each other. If you are like me when this happens, I often don’t want the power to come back on. Well, we have that opportunity coming soon, we call them holidays.

decorativeIn no other time in our history have we been this digitally connected, through social media, texting, and smartphones, we live in an age of constant global connectivity, yet research is showing we are increasingly feeling more alone, and sensing a reduction of human connection. Marian Rose, wrote an article on the Science of Human Connection and Wellness in a Digitally Connected World and states “Psychologists see a pattern in this success-driven culture of busyness and the associated ‘connection disconnection’ of an increasingly digitally remote world, and it’s triggering what they say is rapidly becoming a dire epidemic of loneliness . . . it seems that quality personal time for ourselves and for nurturing our relationships has become increasingly more elusive” (M. Rose, 2017).

The question is, though we are digitally and globally connected by investing in this communication, are we actually hurting our personal and human connections?

As a professor, my job is to help my students learn how to create digital content that forces people to pay attention to their digital ads, click on links, and spend as much time connecting to products and services as possible. However, I also teach Digital and Business Ethics and my job is to help students recognize the balance and the importance of communicating face to face and making those human connections. Therefore, I would challenge you this holiday season to focus on each other. To put the phone down, turn the computer off, and let the digital world spin without you for one day. It may allow you to connect with a family or a friend in a unique way and if nothing else, really listen to them and allow you to show them kindness with your ears.

If that doesn’t work, you can always turn off the WIFI router and see what happens. Who knows, you may connect with your friends and family in ways you never thought was possible . . . “Keep calm the internet is off.”

trevor jamesNorth Park is a city-centered, intercultural, and Christian university located in Chicago. Dr. Trevor James is the associate dean, business faculty and director in the School of Professional Studies. Dr. James teaches a number of classes, such as Marketing, Digital and Social Media Marketing, and Digital/Business Ethics.

The School of Professional Studies offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in business administration, counseling psychology, criminal justice, digital marketing, location intelligence, nonprofit management, and organizational management and leadership. For more information about the School of Professional Studies go to www.northpark.edu/sps.

Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags , , ,

North Park Honors Faculty at University Convocation

North Park honored its faculty at the annual University Convocation September 17, installing new and tenured faculty and administrators, and recognizing those who have published books and articles in the last year.

North Park honored its faculty at the annual University Convocation September 17, installing new and tenured faculty and administrators, and recognizing those who have published books and articles in the last year.

In her address to the nine professors who attained promotions or tenure at the ceremony in Anderson Chapel, President Mary Surridge commended them on their hard work and devotion to North Park.

Provost Michael O. Emerson recognized the 10 faculty members who have recently published books, which ranged in topic from mathematics to Hip Hop music and its application to theology.

“Words are precious and valued, holy and sacred,” Emerson said. “To write is to contribute to the divine creation, to be a writer is to be called by God’s hand to be co-creator.”

Ingrid Tenglin, assistant vice president of human resources, installed two new administrators: Lisa Ncube, associate provost for enrollment management; and Anthony Scola, vice president for enrollment management and marketing.
“We need the expertise and skills, the passion and commitment you bring to this place,” Tenglin said. “We are thankful you have chosen to serve with us.”
The faculty members were honored at a reception after the service.

Recognized Faculty:

Eric Brown—Tenure
Yoojin Choi—Tenure and full professor
Julia Davids—Full professor
You-Seong Kim—Tenure
John Laukaitis—Tenure and associate professor
Dimitra Loukissa—Tenure and full professor
Sunshine Silver—Associate professor
Kezia Shirkey—Tenure and associate professor
Theodore Zervas—Tenure and full professor

Faculty Authors:

Ilsup Ahn
Rachelle Ankney and Aaron Kaestner
Chad Eric Bergman
Paul H. De Neui
Michael Oluf Emerson
Alice Gorguis
Daniel White Hodge
Hauna Ondrey
Gregor Thuswaldner
Theodore G. Zervas

Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags , , ,

Music Department Welcomes New Faculty

North Park’s School of Music, Art, and Theatre welcomes several talented musicians to its faculty.

North Park’s School of Music, Art, and Theatre is pleased to welcome several talented musicians to its faculty.

David Govertsen and Sam Handley, both professional singers who have performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and Deb Stevenson, an oboist who performs with many local symphonies and quartets, join the faculty for the Fall 2018 semester. Also coming on board are hornist Anna Jacobson and Barbara Drapcho, a clarinetist, both of whom have performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

“The School of Music, Art, and Theatre is very pleased to welcome these new music instructors,” said Craig Johnson, dean of the School of Music. “They all have strong backgrounds and training to bring to their duties at North Park, and we are confident that the students with whom they work will receive the best possible training.”

Chicago native Govertsen has been singing professionally for 15 years and is known for his portrayal of low-voiced heroes, villains, and buffoons. Mr. Govertsen, who attended Northwestern and Northern Illinois Universities, made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2011 as Herald in Othello. In addition to the Lyric, he has performed as a soloist with the Detroit, Madison, Rochester, and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestras, among others. Govertsen will teach undergraduate applied music.

As a student at Vanderbilt University, Tennessee-born Handley left the field of mathematics to pursue singing opera, concert, and recital. With degrees from University of Wisconsin and University of Houston, Handley has performed across the country and the world, appearing in productions in Beijing, New Hampshire, and San Francisco, and is known for his “rich, burnished” voice. He joins the faculty as a voice teacher.

Stevenson, who will be a lecturer, has been a freelance oboist in the Chicago area for 30 years. In addition to being a member of the Metropolitan and Lake Forest Symphonies, she is a founding member of the Metropolis Quartet and can be heard in numerous recordings, including The Soundstage Sessions with Stevie Nicks. Stevenson studied oboe and English horn at several universities, including Boston and Northwestern, and maintains an active private teaching studio.

Drapcho, who has two degrees from Northwestern University, has performed in Chicago, New York, and Detroit. Jacobson, who holds degrees from Lawrence and DePaul Universities, is a member of several music groups and is also an award-winning fiddler. They will both teach applied instruction.

Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, StoriesTags , , , , ,

English Professor Seeks Your Input on Life-changing Literature

Did a novel or other work of literature change your life? If so, North Park English Professor Nancy Arnesen wants to hear from you.

Did a novel or other work of literature change your life? If so, North Park English Professor Nancy Arnesen wants to hear from you.

Dr. Arnesen begins a yearlong sabbatical this summer, exploring the meaning of literature outside the classroom and in the broader world. As part of her research, she would like to hear from former students (along with their friends and family) about how a specific piece of literature changed their lives.

“I’d be interested to hear from alums about a literary work they read in college, or since, that has been important to them in some way,” says Dr. Arnesen, who has taught writing and literature for more than 30 years. “As part of my research, I’ll be asking ‘why bother with literature?’ and ‘how can literature serve the common good?’”

In addition to reading works by authors who examine literature and its relationship to the common good, Dr. Arnesen will be searching out internship opportunities for students as part of North Park’s Catalyst 606__ program, in which Chicago serves as North Park’s extended classroom. To do so, Dr. Arnesen will be spending time exploring Chicago-based clubs and other non-profits that encourage the use of literature as a way to improve people’s lives.

If you’d like to assist Dr. Arnesen with her project, reach out to her at narnesen@northpark.edu.

More About Dr. Arnesen

Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, StoriesTags , , , , ,

Book Announcement: “Market Cities, People Cities” Co-authored by University Provost, Michael Emerson

Released by NYU Press, April 2018.

Newly released by NYU Press is Market Cities, People Cities: The Shape of Our Urban Future, co-authored by Michael Emerson, Provost of North Park University, and Kevin T. Smiley.

About Provost Emerson

From the Publisher

From the publisher:

Book Cover of Market Cities, People Cities“An in-depth look at the urban environments of Houston and Copenhagen

How are modern cities changing, and what implications do those changes have for city inhabitants? What kinds of cities do people want to live in, and what cities do people want to create in the future? Michael Oluf Emerson and Kevin T. Smiley argue that western cities have diverged into two specific and different types: market cities and people cities. Market cities are focused on wealth, jobs, individualism, and economic opportunities. People cities are more egalitarian, with government investment in infrastructure and an active civil society. Analyzing the practices and policies of cities with two separate foci, markets or people, has substantial implications both for everyday residents and future urban planning and city development.

As twenty-first century cities diverge, Market Cities, People Cities is essential for urban dwellers anxious to be active in their pursuit of their best cities, as well as anyone looking to the future of cities around the world. ”

NYU PRESS

Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories Announcement, StoriesTags , , , , , , ,

Dean Thuswaldner elected President of the Austrian Studies Association

Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Dean of Arts and Sciences, was elected President of the Austrian Studies Association, a member institution of the American Council of Learned Societies.

Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Dean of Arts and Sciences, was elected President of the Austrian Studies Association, a member institution of the American Council of Learned Societies. Thuswaldner will serve a two-year term as President. The US-based Austrian Studies Association was founded in 1961 to promote the study of Austrian, Austro-Hungarian, and Habsburg culture, literature, history, and politics. The Austrian Studies Association publishes a quarterly scholarly journal, the Journal of Austrian Studies (University of Nebraska Press) and organizes annual conferences. As President, Thuswaldner also serves as the association’s Chief Executive Officer Liaison to and ex-officio Board Member of the American Council of Learned Societies.

More About Dean Thuswaldner

More About the Austrian Studies Society

Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories Announcement, News, StoriesTags , , ,