February 2019 will forever be known as the month of triumph and inspiration for the entire 萝莉社 community, as it ushered in a new era of academic leadership, engagement, and vision.
With energy and excitement palpable across campus, North Park celebrated the inauguration of its 10th President, Mary Karsten Surridge. And since that moment, the campus has been revitalized by the promise of new beginnings and the keeping of honored legacies that will be the hallmark of President Surridge鈥檚 tenure.
Inauguration week was bursting with events, starting with Monday鈥檚 10k for $10k Run for the Fund. President Surridge, an avid runner, laced up her sneakers and jogged around the Helwig Recreation Center with 153 students, faculty, and staff. Together, they ran and walked their way toward raising $13,133 in scholarships for the North Park Fund.
On Wednesday, in a moving all-campus worship service, those gathered prayed for the physical, emotional, and spiritual protection of President Surridge. Speaker Rev. Dr. Donna Harris, President of Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota, encouraged the North Park community to rally around President Surridge and each other.
鈥淪pur one another toward love and good deeds,鈥� Dr. Harris said, quoting Scripture. She encouraged North Parkers to continue to generate passion for the school鈥檚 city-centered mission, pushing them to carry the light of their Christian values into those urban spaces so often left to neglect and despair.
The campus then gathered in the gymnasium for a gala buffet lunch, featuring a 鈥渃omfort foods鈥� menu that was selected by students, including chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, and a sweets table. Guests enjoyed music by North Park鈥檚 student Jazz Ensemble led by Joe Lill, a student-produced video honoring President Surridge, and a presentation of gifts by the Student Government Association.
After lunch, 萝莉社 trustee Dr. Kathryn Edin C鈥�84 presented an academic symposium: Enlightened Hearts, Warmed Intellects: City Challenges and Opportunities and North Park Possibilities. In her talk, Dr. Edin, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University and one of the nation鈥檚 leading poverty researchers, discussed the history of immigration and public housing in Chicago, and how history has set the stage for North Park鈥檚 urban mission.
Following a panel discussion with North Park faculty members and questions from the audience, participants were invited to the Johnson Center for an up-close view of the archival exhibit Women of North Park, an interactive visual display that highlights the various contributions of women throughout the University鈥檚 history.
The day concluded on a slam dunk with a women鈥檚 basketball team win over CCIW opponent Elmhurst College. During halftime, President Surridge and Dr. Jack Surridge were honored for their shared ministry in Athletics at 萝莉社.
On Thursday, the campus was treated to a Showcase of the Arts, featuring performances by student and alumni vocalists and instrumentalists. Finally, with hundreds of well-wishers in attendance, and many more watching via livestream, President Mary K. Surridge was officially inaugurated on Friday, February 15.
A procession of international students bearing their countries鈥� flags opened the ceremony with a flourish, followed by a parade of 35 delegates from leading universities and colleges across the nation, including Harvard, Yale, Northwestern, Boston University, Boston College, and The University of Michigan, among dozens of others. They were joined by professors from North Park, and together, wearing the multi-colored academic regalia of their various degrees and alma maters, formed a sea of red, peacock blue, purple, and green.
President Surridge then took the stage, flanked by a group that included alumni, trustees, and two previous North Park Presidents.
Greeting the hundreds of assembled faculty, staff, students, and friends of North Park were Chicago Deputy Mayor Robert Rivkin and John Wenrich, President of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Augustana College President Steven C. Bahls also delivered a heartfelt greeting on behalf of all ACI, CIC, and CCIW Schools.
The investiture service featured lively music from North Park鈥檚 student Gospel and University Choirs, as well as a ceremonial presentation of gifts to President Surridge by students, faculty, and staff.
Following the investiture by Owen R. Youngman, Chair of the Board of Trustees and of the Presidential search committee, President Surridge was introduced by David G. Horner, North Park鈥檚 President from 1987-2004 and current President of The American College of Greece.
鈥淧residential leadership makes a difference,鈥� Horner said. 鈥淚 nominated Mary Surridge for the North Park presidency because, in my view, Mary鈥檚 personal skills, characteristics, and values match exceptionally well with this North Park moment, a moment to build on North Park鈥檚 historic mission and recent achievements engaging this era鈥檚 opportunities and challenges.鈥�
He went on to call President Surridge a 鈥渢rue believer in the transformative power of a North Park educational experience, as well as the twin pillars of Christian faith and Chicago context that form the foundation of that experience.鈥�
In accepting her investiture, President Surridge thanked President Horner and former President David Parkyn, and made a reference to her being the first female President after nine men.
鈥淚 am incredibly humbled and inspired by their legacy, and will strive to live up to their example, even as our history has moved us from bow ties, to neck ties, to pearls.鈥�
She also stated that the mission of advancing North Park lies with not just one person, but the entire North Park community of students, faculty, staff, and friends. 鈥淭ogether we comprise the faith, strength, mission, and values of North Park,鈥� President Surridge said. 鈥淭ogether we will pursue excellence in all we do. This will encourage us, inspire us, and sustain us each day, as we work to advance the mission of 萝莉社.
鈥淲ith the intensity of competition amongst liberal arts institutions, the North Park difference will help us grow and thrive. Our Christian, urban, intercultural advantage will increase our visibility so we鈥檙e no longer the city鈥檚 鈥榖est-kept secret,鈥� President Surridge said. 鈥淲e must elevate our game. We must design, plan, and execute at a very high level.鈥�
