Tag: humanities

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 , ,

North Park’s Center for Civic Engagement To Empower Community Leaders, Enrich Student Learning

North Park University launches Center for Civic Engagement.

North Park University has launched the Center for Civic Engagement, an outgrowth of its Catalyst 606 program in which the university’s faculty and students will work with community leaders to strengthen the important work they’re doing in Chicago’s neighborhoods. As part of the initiative, North Park will also offer a Public Policy major beginning in fall 2023.

“The main idea is to build more of a city-centered ethos on campus, and to augment North Park’s commitment to the just flourishing of cities by honoring the work that is going on in neighborhoods,” said Richard Kohng, assistant vice president for the Center of Civic Engagement.

The center enacts this mission through four core divisions: the Catalyst Hub; the Community Assets and Program Evaluation Consortium; the Community Development Hub; and through public policy engagement.

“The Center for Civic Engagement elevates North Park’s unique distinctives as a Christian, city-centered, intercultural university,” North Park President Mary K. Surridge said. “Faculty and students learning and working alongside community leaders across Chicago is yet another example of North Park living into its mission of preparing students for lives of significance and service.”

As part of the center, faculty will provide their specialized expertise to community groups for a reduced fee. For instance, Assistant Professor of Psychology Amy Governale will provide at-cost guidance on program development for organizations that lack the resources to do so themselves.

“A lot of locally led groups don’t see the money they should from grants or philanthropy,” Kohng said. “This will help level the playing field.”

Students will be involved as well, via the Catalyst Hub. Since 2017, students have participated in a designated civic engagement block every Wednesday afternoon. The schedule allows immersive learning experiences to be incorporated into classes across the curriculum, Kohng said.

Building on Catalyst’s success, the new program will incorporate a consortium that allows students to work on real-time projects that benefit community groups. For example, a business class might work on a marketing campaign for a fundraising drive, or a math class could analyze data related to program participants.

The center will be led by a board of community leaders from across the city, and with the guidance of partner Transform Capital—a nonprofit lending initiative cofounded by Paul Hawkinson, a professor in North Park’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management.

Learn more about the Center for Civic Engagement

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

Student-Run Vista Magazine Offers a Viewpoint, and Wants Yours, Too

A new campus magazine, created by Stephen Nielsen and Ricardo Huerta, gives students a voice on politics, religion, and culture.

Stephen Nielsen, Editor in Chief of Vista Magazine

North Park junior Stephen Nielsen saw a need for a campus publication that allowed students to freely express their opinion on politics, religion, and culture. So, he and a friend, Ricardo Huerta, started Vista Magazine.

“North Park is a very politically charged campus, and we wanted to create an outlet for students to express themselves,” said Nielsen, who, with Huerta, wanted to veer slightly from Spectrum, the existing, newsier student magazine.

“We didn’t see enough students participating in written dialogue,” Nielsen said.

A sampling of the magazine’s most recent issue seems to help address that: An article about gun reform shares space with a movie review of smash box office hit Black Panther by Ghanian student Frank Roberts; there is also a page devoted to students sharing their #METOO experiences.

The quarterly, which premiered this past winter and was followed by a recent spring edition, is currently in search of talented writers and designers for next year.

“Our goal is to show that North Parkers are thinkers from all walks of life,” said Nielsen, who encourages students to reach out to him if they’d like to join his staff or submit their original writing.

Nielsen and Huerta started the magazine from scratch, seeking approval and financing from the Student Government Association, then asking Dr. Reinhold Dooley if he would be their faculty advisor. The English professor and one-time North Park Press faculty advisor said yes immediately, and has mostly allowed the staff to be autonomous.

“If we need advice on an issue or about publishing something controversial, Dr. Dooley has been there to help guide us through the decision,” Nielsen said.

He and Huerta hope the magazine lives on after their graduation and even created a five-year business plan with the future in mind. Right now, the magazine needs to staff up for next year.

“The most important thing to know is that we exist to serve North Parkers,” Nielsen said. If you’re interested in being a part of his mission, visit vistamag.org.

Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories StoriesTags , , , , ,

North Park Students Selected to Present to Illinois Sociological Association

Nineteen North Park students enrolled in Methods in Social Research will attend the 2017 Illinois Sociological Association, seven of whom will present original research.

Nineteen North Park students enrolled in Methods in Social Research are heading to the 2017 Illinois Sociological Association meeting on November 17th, 2017. The students will share seven presentations based on original research ideas developed in the course and as part of activities conducted through the Urban Peace Lab— established and run by their instructor, Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Criminal Justice at North Park. Seven research abstracts were accepted for presentation on one panel and one roundtable.

On the panel, Dr. St. Jean will present a paper entitled, “Conducting Better News Research,” which will provide the general conceptual framework for the students’ research. Dr. St. Jean will also introduce the students presenting on the following topics:

  • I AM NOT GOING BACK: Recidivism and Social Environment in Chicago
  • REVENGE WITHOUT VIOLENCE: How Residents of Chicago’s High Crime Neighborhoods Avenge Victimization Without Violence
  • PEACE WITHOUT GUNS: How Chicago Residents Within High Gun Violence Neighborhoods Resolve Conflicts Without the Use of Guns
  • THE UPRISE: Youth and Gang Avoidance in Chicago
  • POVERTY AND PEACE IN CHICAGO: Voices on the Ground
  • IN SPITE OF IT ALL: Triumph After Human Trafficking

Also attending and presenting papers on Visual Urban Peaceology are North Park alumnus and current University of Chicago graduate student, Eirik J. Berger, and current NPU Theatre and Communications student, Seanna Wong. The panel will be led by Dr. St. Jean’s presentation entitled “Introduction to Peaceology and Urban Peaceology: Findings from Multi-methods Research in Chicago.” Eirik J. Berger and Seanna Wong will then present their papers respectively:

  • VISUAL URBAN PEACEOLOGY: Understanding and Amplifying Peace Intelligence in the Urban Context Through the Use of Visual Tools, Ethnography, Qualitative Data, and Media Research
  • THE ROLE OF THEATRE IN VISUAL URBAN PEACEOLOGY: Findings from Ground-Breaking Ethnographic Research and Activism in Chicago

“I’m happy that these students get this opportunity to make history by being part of the research team that collectively introduces Peaceology, Urban Peaceology, and Better News Research for the first time to an academic conference. They have been working hard to conduct the best presentations, and I am confident that they will do well,” said Professor St. Jean, chairperson of the Sociology Department at North Park.

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Book Announcement: The Hermeneutics of Hell, edited by Gregor Thuswaldner, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Humanities at North Park University

Palgrave Macmillan to release on August 27, 2017.

Palgrave Macmillan to publish The Hermeneutics of Hell: Visions and Representations of the Devil in World Literature, edited by Gregor Thuswaldner, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Humanities at North Park University.

Dr. THUSWALDNER’s Profile

From the publisher

From the publisher:

“This collection of essays analyzes global depictions of the devil from theological, Biblical, and literary perspectives, spanning the late Middle Ages to the 21st century. The chapters explore demonic representations in the literary works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Dante Alighieri, Charles Baudelaire, John Milton, H.P. Lovecraft, and Cormac McCarthy, among others. The text examines other media such as the operas Orfeo and Erminia sul Giordano and the television shows Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and Mad Men.

The Hermeneutics of Hell, featuring an international set of established and up-and-coming authors, masterfully examines the evolution of the devil from the Biblical accounts of the Middle Ages to the individualized presence of the modern world.”

Palgrave Macmillan

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

Making the Most of Your Education: Kathleen Dillon C’11

Kathleen Dillion C’11, English literature alumna, shares about growing into her professional life and giving back to her community.

Kathleen Dillion, C'11, graduated with a degree in English Literature and minored in Politics and Government. She participated in multiple clubs and organizations including NPU Press, was Secretary of the Queers and Allies group, and was a member of both Sigma Tau Delta and Pi Sigma Alpha.

North Park will forever be the place where I met lifelong friends and mentors. It will also always represent challenge and growth for me. The most valuable lesson I learned at North Park is that your education, and your life in general, is what you make of it! Though I was a transfer student and rather shy, I put myself out there and made friends with whom I am even closer today.

I spent my first summer after graduation working for Shoreline Sightseeing downtown and having a wonderful time just enjoying living in the city. I then moved back to Michigan to begin a position as a substitute teacher. I had been unsure as to what was next for me and wanted to gauge my interest in returning to school for a teaching certificate. After taking on multiple paraprofessional roles, I decided that I would like to go back to school for a Master’s in English. I knew that I wanted to teach at the college-level. Loyola University Chicago, in Rogers Park, had a ‘teaching track’ for their Master’s in English program.

I found a graduate assistantship as a Tutoring Coordinator with the TRIO Student Support Services program on campus–Achieving College Excellence (ACE), which serves students who are the first in their family to go to college, have higher financial need, and/or have a documented disability. After graduating from Loyola, I went on to teach College Composition at College of Lake County, and Developmental Writing at North Park! It was so very interesting teaching in the same classroom in which I took so many of my undergraduate courses.

I later applied for a new Academic Counselor position ACE wrote into their grant. I got the job and have been with ACE as a full-time staff member for over a year now. I am the academic counselor and primary first and second year advisor for a group of about 70 students. I see myself as an advocate, ally, and, along with the rest of ACE, a support system for our students, who need guidance in navigating college life. I also teach two sections of UNIV 101, supervise a staff of ACE students who have trained to be peer mentors, and supervise the graduate assistant Tutoring Coordinator, my former position.

At North Park, because it’s small, students, staff, and faculty wear multiple hats–I can juggle multiple positions and projects because of my time at North Park and the opportunities I was given there. My time as a Writing Advisor, under the guidance of the great Carol Martin, gave me the experience I needed to work as an English Language Arts paraprofessional for at-risk students, which lead to Loyola’s English Master’s program and positions at TRIO.

My position with the North Park Press, political philosophy courses, and summer internship in D.C. prepared me for community organizing. I am now a Community Organizer in Rogers Park, am on the Steering Committee for our independent, progressive ward body, and am the Political Coordinator at the Heartland Cafe. This experience has been invaluable and I am putting my education and values into action.

One of the best things you can do, in my view, to give back to North Park University is to go on and be a credit to the University’s mission. Are you a person of character, compassion, and common sense? Think through what it means to live a life of significance and service. It can feel like a corny line sometimes when you are in college, but I find myself reflecting on these values every day now. Folks who live lives of significance and service are so desperately needed in this world.

Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories Profile, StoriesTags , , ,

TEDx Recap: Paradigms Shifted

Shifting Paradigms, the theme of the event, challenged the attendees’ views on social and political issues.

CHICAGO, May 18, 2017 – “When I first heard the title Shifting Paradigms, I had to look up what ‘paradigm’ meant,” began Mark Gavoor’s speech, a professor in the School of Business at North Park University. “See here’s what I thought it was,” he said, pointing to a pair of dimes at the top of the screen. The next slide showed the dimes move to the bottom of the screen, “and now they’ve shifted!”

North Park University held its inaugural TEDx event. The “x” is an indicator of an independently organized TED event. Students spearheaded this first of a promising many annual TEDx events. Student Paul Clines along with Faculty member Dr. Christopher Hubbard were the initiators of the event.

“This is a great day at North Park,” Dr. Hubbard stated in his opening remarks to kick off the event of the first session. Speakers such as North Park’s Drs. Soong-Chan Rah and Michelle Clifiton-Soderstrom spoke alongside change-makers Dominique Jordan Turner and Amy ‘Hope Dealer’ Williams. Shifting Paradigms, the theme of the event, challenged the attendees’ views on social and political issues such as making “Peace Profitable,” the Silent Movement of disability, labels such as “thugs, gangster,” and poverty. “Poverty has the power to change the world,” was the premise of Turner’s argument for highlighting the skills of those surrounded by poverty.

Interlaced among the live speakers were videos of other TED talks in which speakers from around the globe gave five-minute talks on a variety of topics. Three of North Park’s own students were also among those who spoke: Seanna Wong, Melanie Lofgren, and Azat Toroev. Seanna Wong, a theater and communications double major and ethnographic storyteller, presented her piece about the “Listening Loop” and performance, stating that her passion “weaves together lives.” Azat Toroev, an exchange student at North Park with world-wide experience, gave a compelling speech on those with disabilities, and how disabilities do not limit possibilities.

North Park University was proud to see students take initiative, and is excited for the next TEDx event held on campus likely to be held in 2018.

Related:

INAUGURAL TEDX NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY NURTURES TALENTS OF ITS STUDENTS

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

Diversity and Dialogue in Biblical and Theological Studies: Hannah Hawkinson C’17

Hannah Hawkinson C’17, a biblical and theological studies major, shares about her experience at North Park.

Hannah Hawkinson C’17, a biblical and theological studies major, shares about her experience at North Park.

Meeting so many people who challenge the way I think, and who are open and anxious to dialogue with each other; there are people who think so differently, but are willing to talk with each other in and outside the classroom.

I feel at home here, at North Park, seeing so many different people, and hearing so many different languages; I wanted to learn in an environment like that. Being around students who want to learn, are invested, and care about classes as much as I do is something that has been a positive surprise.

As I have refined my interest within theology, I’ve noticed I’m passionate about narrative, about who is speaking this narrative, and searching for the biases that contribute to this narrative. Being able to read literature provides a different way of looking at things, but it has been very helpful.

If you’re considering majoring in BTS, take a class or two on top of the required, and try to take them from as many different professors within the department as you can. Also ask other BTS students about their experiences, I promise we’re a nice bunch. There is no pressure to continue to pastoral duties if you choose it as your major, there are so many other tracks you can take. Hopefully, you’ll see that it’s a rigorous program, but I think that BTS is an important program, especially for this University.

What surprises me most at North Park is meeting so many people who challenge the way I think, and who are open and anxious to dialogue with each other; there are people who think so differently but are willing to talk with each other in and outside the classroom.

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