萝莉社

Category: Stories

Pioneering Nurse Bequeaths $2.4 million Estate to 萝莉社

The unassuming “millionaire next door” who eventually earned her PhD, Wilma Peterson聽bequeathed almost her entire estate of more than聽$2.4 million to 萝莉社.

The unassuming “millionaire next door” who eventually earned her PhD, Wilma Peterson聽bequeathed almost her entire estate of more than聽$2.4 million to 萝莉社, marking a significant gift in the history of the University.

Wilma Peterson photo

Peterson, who was 99 years old when she died in聽March 2020, worked and taught young nurses at nearby Swedish Hospital in the mid-1950s and early 1960s, when the hospital was affiliated with聽North Park聽and the Evangelical Covenant Church, where she also was a lifelong member and had her religious roots.

As her will decrees, the estate gift 鈥斅爓hich was fully received in October 2021聽鈥斅爓ill be divided between the聽萝莉社聽School of Nursing and聽North Park Theological Seminary聽to establish named, endowed faculty chairs in both schools. Peterson, who began working with administrators around 2008 to establish the endowed gifts, lived a long and frugal life in a聽Portland聽suburb, which allowed the eventual gift to grow. Born to a large Canadian farming family in rural聽Saskatchewan in 1921, Peterson was the first in her family to go to university in 1942 and eventually earned her master’s degree in 1953 and a doctorate in 1977, in biology with an emphasis on human physiology because there were few nursing doctorates available.

“Wilma’s life highlights several elements of the聽North Park聽story, past, and present. That includes the determination and subsequent generosity of groundbreaking first-generation students who have been central to聽North Park’s聽culture since its founding in 1891 as a college for predominantly Swedish immigrants,” said聽North Park听笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听Mary K. Surridge.

“Today, Wilma’s legacy promises to live on at聽North Park聽by providing a stellar education to many of our nursing and theological studies students, who are also often first-generation students with unique backgrounds of their own. Her story will inspire many of our students,” said Surridge.

Peterson became a聽United States聽citizen while working and teaching at Swedish Hospital. She attended North Park Covenant Church near聽North Park.

North Park聽is planning investiture ceremonies inducting selected professors into the Wilma E. Peterson faculty chairs.

Author lcpostrobinsonPosted on Categories News, Profile, Stories

Art and Education Student Facilitates Access to Free Admission for Fellow Undergraduates

North Park and the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) have partnered to offer all North Park undergraduate students free admission to the AIC.

North Park and the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) have partnered to offer all North Park undergraduate students free admission to the AIC. The University Partner Program also includes special exhibitions, virtual programs and lectures, professional development, an invitation to , and two dates during the academic school year for the entire North Park community to enjoy free admission.

North Park鈥檚 Student Engagement office presented the idea of being part of the partnership opportunity to one of its very own students, Emily Underwood, an Education and Art major. As the fine arts representative in Student Government, Underwood sat side-by-side with Student Engagement staff members to plan the program and make it a reality.

Emily Underwood

鈥淚f Student Engagement sees that you have an idea, they work tirelessly to make sure you are connected with the right people to make it happen,鈥� said Underwood. 鈥淚 am so excited to have been a part of this which I know will be used and loved by North Park students,鈥� added Underwood.

Viewing Chicago as an extension of the classroom, North Park鈥檚 curriculum integrates experiential learning opportunities spanning the arts, sciences, nonprofits, ministries, businesses, and civic organizations.

Gabriela Vazquez, Student Activities Coordinator, is always looking for opportunities for students to engage the city. 鈥淗aving the ability to create customized events and access to the wealth of resources at such an important museum aligns with North Park’s city-centered, intercultural and Christian distinctives,鈥� said Vazquez.

鈥淏eing involved in this partnership opens up even more opportunities for the city (Chicago) to be a part of our classroom. The art world can be brought into every classroom,鈥� said Underwood.

In addition to free admission for all undergraduate students with a valid North Park ID, the partnership benefits also offer:

  • AIC鈥檚 renowned encyclopedic collection, archival materials in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, lectures, and programs
  • 50 general admission tickets for faculty, staff, and other guests
  • 10% discount on first time memberships (up to Member Plus level) for North Park students, staff, and faculty (excluding student and e-member levels)
  • Two virtual opportunities
  • Invitation to Jobs at Art Museums (JAM), an annual museum career awareness event
  • Opportunities for special professional development programs
  • Concierge service for planned group trips, meetings, classes, or tours

Complementary admission to AIC is valid through January 31, 2023.

Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, Stories

Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim Is Nominated for President of the Evangelical Covenant Church

Upon election of delegates gathering for the ECC鈥檚 annual meeting, in Kansas City, MO, June 23鈥�25, Swanson-Draheim would become the first female president in the denomination鈥檚 history.

萝莉社 is delighted to congratulate Seminary alumna Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim on her as president of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Upon election of delegates gathering for the ECC鈥檚 , in Kansas City, MO, June 23鈥�25, Swanson-Draheim would become the first female president in the denomination鈥檚 history.

A lifelong Covenanter, Swanson-Draheim earned her MBA at 萝莉社 and her Master of Divinity degree from the North Park Theological Seminary. She has served the ECC for more than 23 years, as chaplain at Covenant Home of Chicago, as lead pastor of First Covenant Church in Mason City, Iowa, and, since 2011, as superintendent of the Midwest Conference.

She was selected by the ECC鈥檚 27-member Presidential Nominating Committee from a pool of more than 40 excellent candidates and six finalists.

Committee Chair Steve Dawson said, 鈥渢he Holy Spirit confirmed in our votes what we had prayed for鈥攃lear discernment and unity of mind. Our process was bathed in prayer.鈥�

As the University of the Evangelical Covenant Church, we at North Park are deeply grateful for the committee鈥檚 service to the church, and we thank God for Rev. Swanson-Draheim and for the many gifted leaders throughout our denomination!

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Stories

130 Stories: Christopher Lempa

“As a person who has always felt a calling to service, I was inspired by the Bible’s teachings that we must be good stewards of the earth.”

Christopher Lempa C鈥�18, Marketing and Spanish

“As a person who has always felt a calling to service, I was inspired by the Bible’s teachings that we must be good stewards of the earth. This led me to become co-president of the Green Team club at North Park and lead an initiative to have the cafeteria compost foods.

“Co-President Renee Baker, former President Garrett Warren, and other club members were collaborators. Our biggest challenge was developing the necessary diverse coalition to support the cause. We had to recruit and mobilize a team of students that had never met before and build relationships with multiple University associates and administrators to help guide our efforts and endorse the proposal. These relationships and the teamwork of our student organizers allowed us to create a successful proposal, which the University approved one year after we formed the idea.

“This experience showed me the power of working collaboratively with others toward a common goal. The lessons I learned as a Green Team leader led me to work on several more community-oriented campaigns and develop my own mission-driven career. Since graduating, I鈥檝e been blessed to work for several civic engagement organizations such as the Sierra Club, Peace Corps, Gun Violence Prevention Illinois, and now as a program coordinator for Friends of the Parks.”

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags

130 Stories: Dhruvi Patel

鈥淭he Faith in the Vaccine ambassador program was launched by an interfaith community as a way to lessen the spread of misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Dhruvi Patel C鈥�22, Biomedical Sciences

鈥淭he Faith in the Vaccine ambassador program was launched by an interfaith community as a way to lessen the spread of misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine. 12 North Park students, including myself, were selected as vaccine ambassadors. With guidance from Kristine Aronsson, the pre-health advisor at North Park, we were able to provide vaccines to many people.

鈥淭he major challenge for us was to talk with others about receiving the vaccine. Through this program, we met a huge variety of people from different cultures and educated them on the mechanism and importance of vaccination in more than eight different languages.

鈥淚t was a great experience for me personally because I was able to help and protect many lives by motivating people to get vaccinated, and I learned a lot from this wonderful experience. The motto that we spread to the people around us is 鈥楪et vaccinated and protect your neighbor.鈥欌��

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags

130 Stories: Steve Bauer

鈥淚 was a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade for 25 years as well as a football coach during that time, but I had always wanted to go back to school and become a teacher.”

Steve Bauer (left) with fellow teacher

Steve Bauer C鈥�21, Teacher Licensure

鈥淚 was a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade for 25 years as well as a football coach during that time, but I had always wanted to go back to school and become a teacher. When the pandemic began, the Board of Trade shut down for a period of time, so I took the opportunity and enrolled at North Park for the teacher licensure program because it was the only school in the state that offered teacher licensure in business.

鈥淢y experience at North Park was nothing but positive, and after graduating in December, I really feel like I鈥檓 equipped to become a teacher. I鈥檓 a unique case, transitioning from a profession that I had for 25 years into a completely different one, but from the moment I enrolled to the moment I graduated, North Park faculty bent over backwards to make sure that everything was as smooth as possible.

鈥淒r. Ida Maduram, Dr. John Laukaitis, Dr. Carolyn Poterek, and Dr. Teri Madl were model teachers. One thing they preached that has stuck with me is that in order to help students, you must have empathy鈥攅specially when things aren鈥檛 going smoothly. It鈥檚 a tool I used a lot during my student teaching and will continue to use in the future.鈥�

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags

130 Stories: Nancy Stenberg Carlson

“As I moved into adulthood, it was important for me to better understand and engage with a wider community than the comfortable one close to me.”

Nancy Stenberg Carlson C鈥�68, Psychology & Elementary Education

“North Park has been a place of enriching, enduring community for me. Foremost, I met my husband Ken my junior year; we married in Isaacson Chapel the weekend of his graduation and lived on campus a few more years while he attended seminary and I taught school. Fellow students became dear friends, and we have remained close to many for more than fifty years. Our children were each drawn to North Park as they observed our close relationships and heard of the many enrichment and engagement opportunities Chicago had offered us. That Erik, Mark, and Ingrid chose to attend there was a bonus, as it further broadened our North Park community, and it was a delight to gain a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law who joined our family through North Park.”

Nancy鈥檚 immediate family who are all 萝莉社 alumni, left to right: Erik Carlson, Nancy Stenberg Carlson, Ken Carlson, Ingrid Carlson Halverson, and Mark Carlson.
Nancy鈥檚 immediate family who are all 萝莉社 alumni, left to right: Erik Carlson, Nancy Stenberg Carlson, Ken Carlson, Ingrid Carlson Halverson, and Mark Carlson

“As I moved into adulthood, it was important for me to better understand and engage with a wider community than the comfortable one close to me. My awareness of the broader Chicago community developed significantly in my final semester when I was student teaching. In the Spring of 1968, I was riding a bus on Kedzie each morning and experiencing more of the world鈥檚 diversity than ever before as it headed south to Humboldt Park and Lowell School. When my supervising teacher realized I spoke Spanish, she gave me the responsibility of teaching her five Spanish-speaking students. In this 1:5 ratio, I was able to clearly witness the children’s development and excitement for learning. This early recognition of the impact that caring for and connecting with individual children can have remained with me throughout my teaching career. It also helped me realize the barriers that so many face. After Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in April, the neighborhoods I passed on the bus and the one I taught in experienced incredible violence and volatility as people expressed pent-up frustration. Witnessing this was a pivotal awakening for me, creating an intent to be more aware of what is going on in my broader community, my country, and in the world, and to become more sensitive to the untold challenges facing individuals, people groups, and society in general.”

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags

130 Stories: Haobitai 鈥淢elody鈥� Haobitai

鈥淚 was co-president of the East Asian Student Association for three years. The club is a space for East Asian students to share their experiences and feelings safely.”

Haobitai 鈥淢elody鈥� Haobitai, C鈥�20, Education

鈥淚 was co-president of the East Asian Student Association for three years. The club is a space for East Asian students to share their experiences and feelings safely, without worrying about being judged for their accents or cultural backgrounds. We also wanted to spread cultural awareness to our campus, so the challenge was in engaging other students who haven鈥檛 studied abroad or who may not know a lot of students of color. We would use food to draw students in, because that is something that people are familiar with, but I would always prepare a PowerPoint so that we could share something educational. More and more students wanted to be involved as we planned game-nights, watched movies, and celebrated traditional holidays.

鈥淭he International Office was a big support. Dr. Sumi Song, the Director of International Affairs, was our advisor for the club, and she always had our back. Once when we planned a visit to China Town, Dr. Song reserved a school van for us and gave up her Saturday to drive and go with us. She shared her culture and challenges growing up, supported the students in telling their own stories, and encouraged the club members to have open minds toward each other鈥檚 cultures. She took the time to be present and made us feel that we had support and that we had a safe space to share our experiences.鈥�

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags

130 Stories: Claudia Martinez Patino

“A a former classmate helped me realize and accept my gift and calling to serve in the humanitarian & development field. Now, I am back home in Medellin, Colombia working for a humanitarian aid organization.”

Claudia Martinez Patino, G鈥�19, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Master of Nonprofit Administration

“I began at North Park as a dual degree MACM/MBA international student, but a former classmate, who has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, helped me realize and accept my gift and calling to serve in the humanitarian & development field so I switched to the MACM/MNA dual degree program! Now, I am back home in Medellin, Colombia working for a humanitarian aid organization that is headquartered in Chicago.

“Being an intern for University Ministries and an advisor for the Latin American Student Organization impacted not only my career, but my life holistically. I鈥檓 still honored that so many students saw me as a mentor, a spiritual director, and an example for students of color, especially for Latina Women and international students.

“At 萝莉社, I represented the Spanish voice during the president鈥檚 inauguration, I gave the blessing in the 2020 graduating ceremony, and I preached for the first time fully in English, which is my second language. These memories will be in my heart forever.

“I am a first-generation student with a master鈥檚 degree, and I did it abroad, with all the effort and sacrifices that means. I didn鈥檛 walk for graduation in December 2019 so my parents were planning to attend in May, but the pandemic changed all our plans, and they couldn鈥檛 make it. My diplomas were sent to my house in Colombia. My mom received the diplomas, right before the international border was closed, as a special gift and surprise.

“萝莉社 allowed me to be able to be who I was meant to be. To heal, to learn, to grow and do what I love to do.”

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags

In the Love of Truth: Rev. Dr. David Kersten is Retiring from a Life of Significance鈥攊n Service to the ECC

Even as a child, growing up in the Detroit suburb of Warren, MI, Dave Kersten had a profound sense of the holy, and of God.

Even as a child, growing up in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan, Dave Kersten had a profound sense of the holy, and of God.

鈥淢y mom was a deeply spiritual woman,鈥� Kersten said, 鈥渁lmost mystical. When I was in high school, we read Confessions of St. Augustine together. My whole life, I had people telling me, 鈥榊ou are going to be a pastor.鈥� 鈥�

Those people were right.

But Rev. Dr. David Kersten himself wasn鈥檛 entirely sure until years later, in 1981, when he completed an internship at Greenwood Community Covenant Church in rural Summerdale, Alabama. The internship was a one-year requirement of the Master of Divinity degree he was pursuing at the North Park Theological Seminary鈥攁nd he liked his work at that church so much he stayed an extra year.

鈥淲e survived a hurricane, got a relief grant, put roofs on homes,鈥� Kersten said. 鈥淲e built an outdoor lighted sports court for basketball and volleyball in the church yard鈥攈ad it up and going in two weeks鈥攁nd it鈥檚 still there. I fell in love with preaching. I fell in love with pastoral care. I just got immersed in it.

鈥淚 had a deep sense of call coming out of that experience.鈥�

Kersten鈥檚 sense of call stayed deep. It led to more than 20 years as a Covenant pastor鈥攚ith congregations in Alabama, Florida, Washington, and Minnesota. It led to 11 years as executive minister of the Department of the Ordered Ministry in the ECC, the pastor to pastors. And it led to a decade as Vice President for Church Relations at 萝莉社 and Dean of the North Park Theological Seminary.

Now, after 40 plus years devoted to the Evangelical Covenant Church鈥攁nd to God鈥檚 mission on Earth鈥擱ev. Dr. David Kersten, C’77 S’82 DMin’97, has decided to retire, effective August 1, 2022.

In announcing Kersten鈥檚 retirement to the campus community, 萝莉社 President Mary K. Surridge wrote: 鈥淲e heartily congratulate Dave on this well-earned milestone, his thoughtful planning for this important transition鈥攁nd profoundly thank him for a long and valued career of service that has brought so much to the Evangelical Covenant Church, to our seminary, and to 萝莉社.鈥�

A Through Line to North Park

Kersten began attending Bethany Covenant Church at age 12, and met his future bride, Sandi, in junior high Sunday school there.

鈥淪he is a fourth generation Swedish Covenanter,鈥� Kersten said. 鈥淪he knew she was going to North Park since birth. I found out about North Park from her, and got recruited to play basketball.鈥�

An 鈥渉onest鈥� six feet seven inches tall, Kersten was a starting center for the Vikings (off and on), and he recalls 鈥渁 great experience playing at North Park. We had a good blend of city kids and Covenant kids playing together on the team. It was one of my deep immersions in race.鈥�

He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree from North Park in psychology and human services in 1977, (he and Sandi were married the August after graduation); he earned his Master of Divinity from North Park in 1982; and, already a Covenant pastor, he earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from North Park in 1997.

Preaching and Posting Up

The newly ordained Covenant pastor served at Bethany Covenant Church in Miami for three years during a turbulent time in South Florida. Racial tensions remained high after the May 1980 riots in Overton and Liberty City. (The riots鈥攚hich occurred after an all-white jury acquitted four police officers of beating a black insurance salesman to death after a traffic stop鈥攈ad resulted in 18 deaths and an estimated $100 million in property damage.)

And there were other challenges. As Time Magazine wrote in November 1981:

鈥漇outh Florida鈥攖hat postcard corner of the Sunshine State, that lush strip of hibiscus and condominiums stretching roughly from Palm Beach south to Key West鈥攊s a region in trouble. An epidemic of violent crime, a plague of illicit drugs and a tidal wave of refugees have slammed into South Florida with the destructive power of a hurricane.鈥�

At Bethany Covenant Church, Kersten helped launch an Hispanic ministry. It was the beginning of a cross-cultural ethos woven early and throughout his journey.

Kersten then pastored at Highland Covenant Church in Bellevue, WA, just outside Seattle, for 11 years, and again took his enthusiasm for basketball with him.

鈥淲e built a lovely indoor gym,鈥� he said, 鈥渟till in great use to this day.鈥�

But it wasn鈥檛 all preaching and posting up in the paint for Pastor Dave. In 1994, his ninth year at Highland, Kersten and another church employee were stabbed by a mentally ill parishioner. Both men recovered, but an artery in Kersten鈥檚 right shoulder was severed and he underwent emergency surgery.

鈥淚 received more than 500 cards and notes from all over the Covenant,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ddressing my own PTSD issues related to that incident made me a better pastor.鈥�

News reports at the time said that Kersten was in critical condition鈥攁nd that he forgave his attacker, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

鈥淗e is remorseful and motivated for treatment,鈥� Kersten said then. 鈥淲e knew he wasn鈥檛 in his right mind when we went there.鈥�

Highland helped launch a Spanish church, and also helped settle 20 Russian refugee families.

Next Kersten pastored at First Covenant Church in St. Paul, MN, founded in 1874鈥斺�渁n urban church looking for some new energy and life.鈥� Kersten did not build a basketball court this time, 鈥渂ut we did establish a 3 on 3 tourney in the church parking lot!鈥�

They also renovated the church, which Kersten describes as 鈥渁 gorgeous old sanctuary with exquisite acoustics.鈥�

At First Covenant, where the church had previously settled 100 Hmong families, Kersten helped start a Haitian congregation, 鈥渁nd many are in the church still to this day.鈥�

The Pastors鈥� Pastor

After six years in St. Paul, Kersten accepted the position of executive minister of the Department of the Ordered Ministry in the ECC, and served for 11 years. The denomination鈥檚 executive minister is in charge of credentialing and endorsement of the ministry, continuing education for the denomination鈥檚 some 2,000 pastors, as well as care and crisis intervention. He is the pastors鈥� pastor.

During Kersten鈥檚 time as executive minister, the department developed the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program with a $1.67 million grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2003鈥攖he first Lilly grant won by any ECC entity.

鈥淭he grant funded tremendous resources for pastors,鈥� Kersten said, 鈥渋n spiritual direction, vocational counseling, leadership development and preaching.聽 These were all programs developed by pastors for pastors, with the intent of placing agency for vocational development directly in their hands. The programs still continue to this day.鈥�

Since that first Lilly grant, ECC institutions including North Park, have won an additional $13 million for various programs funded by Lilly.

Innovation at the Seminary

As dean of the North Park Theological Seminary for the past 10 years, Kersten has helped shape a generation of vocational leaders for the whole church鈥攁nd a generation of people answering God鈥檚 call to ECC ministry in particular. Think of the ripple effect: in all, more than 400 Christian leaders 鈥渃alled, equipped, and sent鈥� to serve God鈥檚 global mission.

鈥淚nnovation has been the hallmark of Dave鈥檚 decade as seminary dean,鈥� President Surridge said. 聽Under his leadership the seminary partnered with the ECC and several ECC regional conferences to create the convenient and affordable Ignite program of cohort distance learning. North Park鈥檚 Master of Arts in Christian Formation equips youth pastors, camp directors, adult educators and others to invite the Holy Spirit into the lives of the people and communities they serve. Dual degrees are available in partnership with the School of Business and Nonprofit Management.

And the renowned School of Restorative Arts (SRA) at Stateville Correctional Center, and at Logan Correctional Center for women, offers a master鈥檚 degree in Christian Ministry to free and incarcerated students who study together on the inside.

鈥淪RA is a model of innovation that exemplifies North Park鈥檚 mission,鈥� Surridge said, 鈥渁nd beautifully realizes all three of the University鈥檚 distinctives鈥擟hristian, city-centered, and intercultural.鈥�

Kersten said his vocational arc鈥斺�減astor for over 20 years, a pastors鈥� pastor for 11 years, and a decade of forming new pastors鈥擨 guess it鈥檚 a unique portfolio. I have always been in love with preaching, and in love with pastoral care.鈥�

As a pastoral presence in all his roles, Kersten has demonstrated an exceptional ability to bring scripture into the present moment with vital relevance for the community he serves.

鈥淚t begins with a deep listening to the text,鈥� he said, 鈥渢hen commentary and looking at the scholarly interpretation of the text, and then I go back to the context I鈥檓 preaching in鈥攚hat is happening in that community?鈥攁nd I look for connection points.鈥�

A sustaining verse for Kersten for the past 25 years鈥攁nd still today as he stands at the threshold of retirement鈥攊s John 16:12. Jesus says: 鈥淚 have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.鈥�

鈥淭hat has been a North Star for me,鈥� Kersten said.

鈥淚t opens us up to where is the trail of grace in any crisis or in any inflection point鈥攚hat is God going to reveal to us in this moment, that allows for optimism and a sense of anticipation?鈥�

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Profile, Stories