萝莉社

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“Richard’s Renaissance Room” Honors Beloved Seminary Professor

North Park Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.

Richard CarlsonNorth Park Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.

The space is called Richard鈥檚 Renaissance Room, a nod to Carlson鈥檚 devotion to a variety of pursuits, from history to baseball, Civil Rights, poetry, and biblical scholarship. Carlson鈥檚 wife, Jolene Bergstrom Carlson, said her husband also loved spending time with his children and spent his life fighting against societal hatred and violence.

鈥淩ichard especially had a head and heart for racial justice, lamenting over racial injustices until his final moments,鈥� Jolene said. 鈥淭o Richard, all people belonged and had worth.鈥�

The Richard Renaissance Room, designed as a place to read, pray, and connect with others, is being furnished by $30,000 in private donations to the Seminary. The money also provides tuition assistance via the Richard and Jolene Carlson Scholarship Fund to a seminarian whose studies focus on justice issues.

鈥淩ichard was brilliant, but he never used his mind as anything but a tool to encourage his students to engage with the complexities of faith and life through thoughtful questions and readings,鈥� Jolene Carlson said.

The dedication took place Jan. 24, during the ECC’s Midwinter Conference.

To donate to the fund, visit , select 鈥渙ther鈥� and include 鈥淩ichard Carlson Memorial Fund鈥� in the comment box to designate your giving. You may also mail checks to 萝莉社鈥檚 Development Office:

萝莉社
Development Box 6
3225 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625.

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

Gathering Day, Fall 2017: Coming Together, Looking Forward

Tuesday, August 22, was Gathering Day for North Park faculty and staff.

Tuesday, August 22, members of 萝莉社’s faculty and staff gathered in Anderson Chapel for a time of welcome and of looking forward to the year ahead. Interim President Carl Balsam encouraged faculty and staff to utilize this time of transition to come together in support of the priorities and mission of North Park. Members of the presidential search committee shared about the process and current status of the search for presidential candidates. New faculty and staff members were welcomed by name with warm applause.

All of this was followed by a worship service which both reflected on the challenges of this transitional time and gave uplifting direction for the journey ahead.

Welcome to Our New University Faculty

Keith Bakken, Associate Professor of Health Sciences
Melissa Pavlik, Assistant Professor of English & Director of the Writing Center
Carolyn Poterek, Assistant Professor of Education & Coordinator of Secondary and K-12 Programs
Gwendolyn Purifoye, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Daniel Walsh, Associate Professor/Coordinator of MA in Educational Leadership Program
Jessica Wardell, Assistant Professor of Theatre, Director of Design and Production

Welcome to Our New Seminary Faculty

Hauna Ondrey, Assistant Professor of Church History
Dwight Perry, Dean of Seminary Faculty and Professor of Homiletics and Leadership
Elizabeth Pierre, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care

Welcome to Our New Staff

Athletics
Mike Gravier, Associate Head Football Coach
Libby Scarlatos, Rowing Coach

Enrollment Management
Matt Bond, Transfer Admission Counselor
Michelle Carillo, Admission Counselor
Rosemary Cha, Data Entry Specialist
Emma Lundeen, Transfer Admission Counselor
Jose-Jose Palma, Assistant Director of Admission, Graduate and Adult Programs
Kara Sexton, Admission Counselor

Information Technology
Greg Neumarke, Systems Analyst

Office of Advancement
Marissa Kunkel, Annual Fund Manager

Physical Plant
Flavia Gutierrez, Housekeeper
Matthew Novak, Groundskeeper

Provost Office
Marcus Hill, Director, CRUX School of Discipleship Learning Community
Andrew Larson, Program Assistant, Catalyst Hub

School of Business and Nonprofit Management
Roman Motley, Project Assistant for the Lilly Endowment Grant

School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Kristine Aronsson, Director, Advising for Advanced Education in the Health Professions
Alexandra Blanchard, Operations Coordinator

Student Administrative Services
Hannah McCree, Student Services Specialist
Michelle Schumacher, Student Services Specialist

Student Engagement
Rebecca De Rose, Director of Student Activities
Laura Ebner, Student Success Learning Specialist
Miranda Lonzo, Intercultural Program Coordinator
Rachel Marten, Coordinator of Academic Advising and Faculty Liaison
Raevhann Rush, Resident Director
Kimberly Schiller, Wellness Education and Title IX Coordinator

University Marketing and Communications
Machaela Irving, Marketing & Communications Manager
Rebekah Putera, Web Content Manager

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories StoriesTags , ,

Book Announcement: The Hermeneutics of Hell, edited by Gregor Thuswaldner, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Humanities at 萝莉社

Palgrave Macmillan to release on August 27, 2017.

Palgrave Macmillan to publish聽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 萝莉社.

Dr. THUSWALDNER’s Profile

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.”

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Book Announcement: Just Debt by Ilsup Ahn, Carl I. Lindberg Professor of Philosophy at 萝莉社

Baylor University Press to release on October 15, 2017.

Baylor University Press to publish聽Just Debt: Theology, Ethics, and Neoliberalism by聽Ilsup Ahn, Carl I. Lindberg Professor of Philosophy at 萝莉社 and Carnegie Council Global Ethics Fellow.

Dr. Ahn’s Profile

From the publisher:

“Debt鈥攑ersonal, corporate, governmental鈥攊s so pervasive in contemporary economies, with its moralistic logic nearly unquestioned. Debt鈥檚 necessity renders it morally neutral, absolving it of the dehumanizing effect it brings in unbridled financialization.

In Just Debt Ilsup Ahn explores ethical implications of the practice of debt. By placing debt in the context of anthropology, philosophy, economics, and the ethical traditions provided by the Abrahamic religions, Ahn holds that debt was originally a form of gift, a gift which was intended as a means to serve humanity. Debt, as gift, had moral ends. Since the late eighteenth century, however, debt has been reduced to an amoral economic tool, one separated from its social and political context. Ahn recovers an ethics of debt and its moral economy by rediscovering debt鈥檚 forgotten aspect鈥攖hat all debts entail unique human stories. Ahn argues that it is only in and by these stories that the justice of debt can be determined. In order for debt to be justly established, its story should be free from elements of exploitation, abuse, and manipulation and should conform to the principles of serviceability, payability, and shareability.

Although the contemporary global economy disconnects debt from its context, Ahn argues that debt must be firmly grounded in the world of moral values, social solidarity, and political resolution. By re-embedding debt within its moral world, Just Debt offers a holistic ethics of debt for a neoliberal age.”

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Six Soon-to-be Faculty and Staff Alum Dedicate a Combined 110 Years of Service

President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty alum: Whipp Johnshon, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to 萝莉社.

May 16, 2017鈥斅芾蛏� celebrated Gathering Day Spring 2017. Faculty and staff gathered in Hamming Hall to socialize, enjoy lunch together, and recognize the years of service of long-time educators and leading administrators who will soon enter the next phase in their lives鈥搑etirement. President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty and staff alum:聽 Whipp Johnson, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to 萝莉社.

Some Background on the Faculty and Staff Alum

Whipp Johnson

Dr. Johnson loves to teach, and in the second half of his career he discovered that he also loves to instruct others to teach.

Following 25 years of teaching social studies in high schools in Maryland and Illinois, Dr. Johnson came to North Park in 2007 as a member of the faculty in the School of Education.

Dr. Johnson views teaching as a combination of practice, profession, and calling. As a teacher of prospective teachers, he takes time in his classroom to develop in his students a bonded commitment to hard work and persistence. He is fond of telling his students: 鈥淭he journey to the other side of the desk will challenge you in unexpected ways. At the same time, it鈥檚 a journey well worth making because of the difference you can make in the lives of students.鈥�

Carol Martin

Dr. Martin鈥檚 calling in life brought her to North Park in 2003 as professor of communication arts, yet her students know her best, and love her most deeply, as director of the writing center.

Dr. Martin leaves a legacy of strong writing advisors with majors from across the whole of our academic program. She is called on often for counsel, is colleague to many鈥攁nd especially colleague to her students.

Dr. Martin鈥檚 expert contribution to teaching at North Park was recognized a year ago with presentation of the Zenos Hawkinson Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Mary Adams Trujillo

TrujilloDr. Trujillo has served as professor of communication arts at North Park since 2003. Her courses build on a belief that a combination of service, experiential learning, and cultural immersion helps students engage with the world鈥攕tarting with the city of Chicago.

Dr. Trujillo鈥檚 primary interest, and her scholarly expertise, is in conflict transformation. Throughout her teaching in this area Dr. Trujillo promotes opportunities for cultures and communities to meet鈥攚ithin the classroom and far beyond. One example comes from her course in Conflict Transformation, in which she brings together 24 high school students to a retreat with her North Park students to nurture within all an understanding of how to transform violent environments.

Dr. Trujillo鈥檚 scholarship is well-illustrated through a volume she co-edited in 2008 with colleagues from across the country, a book titled Re-Centering: Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice.

Rupe Simms

Dr. Simms joined 萝莉社 as professor of Africana studies in 1997. He brought with him an impressive set of academic credentials: two bachelor鈥檚 degrees, a master鈥檚 degree, and two doctorates.

Dr. Simms has taught many students what it means to have our voice, our story, and our identity, validated 鈥� which has uplifted students through their educational journey at North Park, and has encouraged many of his colleagues.

In Dr. Simms鈥� classroom, students expanded their worldviews, along with their understanding of social injustice and the discrimination that groups of Americans experience because of race, class, or gender. To reach these outcomes, Dr. Simms has always built on Chicago as classroom, infusing student learning with the current culture and long history connecting African Americans and Mexican Americans to the city.

Dr. Simms鈥� scholarship is centered on the politics of religion in the history of African people, as well as the sociopolitical and religious experiences of Afro-Americans and Mexican-Americans. In 2010 Rupe wrote a substantial text on these topics, A Gramscian Analysis of the Role of Religion and Politics: Case Studies in Domination, Accommodation, and Resistance.

Dr. Jay Phelan

Dr. Phelan finds it is easy to divide seminaries into the categories of 鈥渁cademic鈥� or 鈥減ractical.鈥� One prepares for ministry through a rigorously intellectual process without the life of the church. The other is a training program that teaches 鈥渉ow,鈥� but not 鈥渨hy.鈥� As a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, Dr. Phelan knows the value of theological education, particularly in the serious study of the biblical text. He came to North Park because he believes their Theological Seminary has found a way to combine both. According to Dr. Phelan, 鈥淭he intellectual, the practical, and the spiritual come together here. And I wanted to be a part of this process of engaging text and culture.鈥�

Having served as the Seminary鈥檚 dean of students from 1981 to 1986, Dr. Phelan then returned in 1996. He served as the seminary鈥檚 president and dean until 2010, when he became a full-time faculty member. Dr. Phelan oversaw the Seminary鈥檚 chapel program. 鈥淲orshiping together is critical,鈥� says Dr. Phelan. 鈥淭his is a place where we come to pray, sing, break bread, and celebrate.鈥� From 2010-2017, Dr. Phelan served as Senior Professor of Theological Studies.

Les Carlstrom

Les Carlstrom (middle) began his time at North Park as a student in 1972.

Les Carlstrom graduated from North Park in 1976 and returned to North Park in December 1990 as Controller and Director of Finance. The need for good financial accounting and controls were paramount, and Les鈥� arrival proved to be an incredible blessing.

Over the intervening聽years, Les has demonstrated keen financial acumen, keeping impeccable financial records and executing financial policy and financing initiatives with unusual skill. 鈥淟es鈥� high character and commitment to North Park鈥檚 mission will be remembered, and he has always remained a kind, respectful, and compassionate professional,鈥� says Executive Vice President Carl Balsam and Les鈥� close colleague during his entire time at North Park. His Business Office colleagues would describe Les as a joy with which to work. Les has had an amazing, maybe historic, run as controller of 萝莉社. 鈥淲e are incredibly blessed by Les鈥� presence with us these past 26 years鈥� expresses Executive Vice President Carl Balsam.

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TEDx Recap: Paradigms Shifted

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

CHICAGO, May 18, 2017 鈥� 鈥淲hen I first heard the title Shifting Paradigms, I had to look up what 鈥榩aradigm鈥� meant,鈥� began Mark Gavoor鈥檚 speech, a professor in the School of Business at 萝莉社. 鈥淪ee here鈥檚 what I thought it was,鈥� he said, pointing to聽a pair of dimes at the top of the screen. The next slide showed the dimes move to the bottom of the screen, 鈥渁nd now they鈥檝e shifted!鈥�

萝莉社 held its inaugural TEDx event. The 鈥渪鈥� 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.

鈥淭his is a great day at North Park,鈥� Dr. Hubbard stated in his opening remarks to kick off the event of the first session. Speakers such as North Park鈥檚 Drs. Soong-Chan Rah and Michelle Clifiton-Soderstrom spoke alongside change-makers Dominique Jordan Turner and Amy 鈥楬ope Dealer鈥� Williams. Shifting Paradigms, the theme of the event, challenged the attendees鈥� views on social and political issues such as making 鈥淧eace Profitable,鈥� the Silent Movement of disability, labels such as 鈥渢hugs, gangster,鈥� and poverty. 鈥淧overty has the power to change the world,鈥� was the premise of Turner鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥淟istening Loop鈥� and performance, stating that her passion 鈥渨eaves together lives.鈥� 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.

萝莉社 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

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Dr. Stephen Ray Makes 40 Under 40 List as Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Named to the 2017 Consulting-Specifying Engineer 40 Under 40 list.

CHICAGO (May 16, 2017) North Park鈥檚 Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering and Director of Sustainability Dr. Stephen Ray has been named to the 2017 Consulting-Specifying Engineer 40 Under 40 list. According to their web site , a Consulting-Specifying Engineering is, 鈥渄edicated to encouraging and recognizing the most talented young individuals in the engineering community supporting the building industry.鈥�

Nominations were judged by the editors of聽Consulting-Specifying Engineer聽and anonymous industry experts seeking to identify accomplished individuals with outstanding academic credentials and in-the-field professional experience. Award recipients met such important criteria as being actively involved with the engineering community and supporting the building industry.

Other qualities the awards committee looked for included community service鈥擠r. Ray began a mentoring program that has paired 45 students with professional mentors; innovation and inventiveness 鈥擠r. Ray contributed to the design of 28 domestic and international buildings totaling over 38 million ft2 and individually conducted 20 urban climate studies for building campuses and urban districts; and leadership鈥擠r. Ray spearheaded North Park鈥檚 BS in Mechanical Engineering degree which began Spring 2017.

With a specialty solving complex problems related to sustainability and airflow, Dr. Ray approaches his field as both an engineering professor and a practitioner. Dr. Ray plans to attend a congratulatory networking dinner this Fall where he鈥檒l have the opportunity to meet fellow 40 Under 40 winners.

STEPHEN RAY

ENGINEERING AT NORTH PARK

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Chicago Public Schools Selects 萝莉社 to Partner on Continuing Education

Starting this spring, North Park serves as one of 15 Illinois Universities chosen to partner with CPS and participate in the program offering CPS teachers an opportunity to further develop their credentials 鈥� all at reduced tuition.

Graduate Level Coursework Offered to Licensed Teachers at Discounted Tuition

CHICAGO (May 2017)鈥擣illing high need positions in the Chicago Public School (CPS) system requires continuing education specialization beyond an undergraduate teaching degree. Important additional training combined with costly tuition to cover continuing education studies prompted the launch of the CPS Continuing Endorsement Program. Starting this spring, North Park serves as one of 15 Illinois Universities chosen to partner with CPS and participate in the program offering CPS teachers an opportunity to further develop their credentials 鈥� all at reduced tuition. The 15 Partner Illinois Universities tuition discounts range from 5% to 61% with North Park offering a 50% discounted tuition to CPS teachers.

For licensed teachers, the Continuing Endorsement Program provides access to graduate-level course work as well as additional endorsements, licenses, and a variety of master degree options. Programs begin Spring 2017 and are offered on campus, online, at CPS schools, and in hybrid formats. North Park CPS Partner courses range from bilingual to principal preparation where teachers can further develop their skills in these endorsement areas. 鈥淲e encourage all staff (CPS) to explore these programs because even if you aren鈥檛 changing focus, these skills can enhance your practice and help address students鈥� diverse needs in your existing classrooms,鈥� remarked Matt Lyons, CPS Chief Talent Officer in a letter North Park received.

鈥淗igh-needs areas like Bilingual and Special Education require additional training and this program is a perfect opportunity to offer licensed teachers continuing education at a reduced tuition so they can go back into the classroom and meet the needs of these students,鈥� stated Dr. Rebecca L. Nelson, North Park Dean, School of Education.

With school districts around the country facing challenges filling high-need positions, CPS reached out to North Park to participate in educating teachers so they can accommodate a diverse student learning profile. 鈥淣orth Park’s School of Education has a long-standing partnership with CPS and we are one of the select universities chosen to offer advanced coursework and licensure for CPS teachers,鈥� expressed Dr. Nelson.

As an approved provider for CPS in the Continuing Endorsement Program, North Park sees this joint partnership with CPS as an effective pathway to both address serving a diverse student population and making it financially feasible for working teachers to obtain additional training.

For more information, please contact Linda Pastorello at lpastorello@northpark.edu or 773-244-5613.

 

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Rev. Dr. Debra Auger Awarded $10,550 Vital Worship Grant from Calvin Institute

Each grant will fund a year-long project (beginning in June) that promotes vital worship and faith formation.

April 25, 2017 鈥� The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) announced that it will fund another 33 worship renewal projects for 2017-2018 as part of its Vital Worship Grants Program.聽As one of the award recipients, Rev. Dr. Debra R. Auger, North Park聽Dean of Students and聽Associate Professor of Ministry received $10,550.

These projects have a variety of emphases鈥攙isual arts, storytelling, music, preaching, contemplation and more鈥攂ut have as a common purpose a desire to both deepen people鈥檚 understanding of worship and strengthen practices of public worship and faith formation.

Said Kathy Smith, director of the Vital Worship Grants Program: 鈥淭hese collaborative projects bring people together to study, plan and create, foster new learning and nourish intergenerational community in worship.鈥�

This year鈥檚 recipients are from around North America and include 20 congregations, one high school, four colleges and universities, three seminaries, and five other organizations, including a retirement community, a military ministry, a hospital ministry, a denominational worship committee and a regional synod. They also represent congregations and schools from 18 denominations, 19 states and two Canadian provinces.

Each grant will fund a year-long project (beginning in June) that promotes vital worship and faith formation, and this year鈥檚 awards range from $6,000 to $18,000 per project.

John Witvliet, director of the CICW, believes that the 2017 projects will help the Worship Institute in its own work of both the scholarly study of the theology, history and practice of Christian worship and the renewal of worship in worshiping communities across North America and beyond.

鈥淲e learn a tremendous amount from these programs,鈥� he said, 鈥渇rom聽the wisdom demonstrated聽in designing them and the insights gleaned from implementing and adapting them as they unfold. We look forward聽to sharing聽insights from these projects with a larger audience聽in our future programming over the next several years.”

This June, project directors and representatives of all 33 grants will gather on Calvin鈥檚 campus to dialogue not only with CICW staff, but also with the recipients of 2016 grants, who will come to campus to share the results of their year-long projects at a poster session that is open to the public.

鈥淲e look forward to learning and worshiping together,鈥� said Smith, 鈥渁nd watching the new grant recipients learn from the wisdom of those with experience.聽 The grants event is always an energizing time of conversation and sharing stories!鈥�

Since it began in the year 2000, the Vital Worship Grants Program has now awarded 784 grants to churches, schools and organizations across North America for projects that generate thoughtfulness and energy for public worship and faith formation at the local, grass-roots level. An advisory board of pastors and teachers from a variety of backgrounds assisted in the grant selections, and the program is generously supported by Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1937, the Endowment鈥檚 major areas of programming are religion, education, and community development.

For more information on the grants program, including a complete list of this year鈥檚 grants recipients, please see www.calvin.edu/worship.

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