Michelle Dodson C’03, biblical and theological studies alumna, shares why she chose North Park.
As a high school student, Michelle chose to come to 萝莉社 because she was looking for a Christian liberal arts university that was small enough for her to get to know people. 鈥淚 was attending a Covenant church in California at the time,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd my pastor suggested I apply to North Park.鈥�
As it turned out, North Park was a great fit for Michelle. 鈥淭he relationships that I built at North Park are what I enjoyed the most,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 have had the privilege of doing life and ministry with many of those people to this day.鈥�
What鈥檚 more, she says, Michelle鈥檚 experience inside and outside of the classroom as a biblical and theological studies major helped prepare her professionally for the work she does in ministry today. 鈥淣orth Park was a great training ground for what I do,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was as a student there that I got my first experiences leading in the areas of racial righteousness.鈥� Serving in campus ministry and engaging with college diversity 鈥渉elped me develop a theology of racial reconciliation. It also gave me opportunities to learn how to communicate that theology.鈥�
Michelle serves as associate pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Bronzeville, a neighborhood on Chicago鈥檚 South Side. She describes New Community as 鈥渁n intentionally multiracial congregation that actively pursues racial reconciliation and social justice.鈥� She鈥檚 currently working toward a PhD in sociology with a focus on multiracial congregations.