North Park Summer 2015 by North Park University

SUMMER 2015 VOLUME 75/NUMBER 2

FAITH FORWARD

FIRST WORD

Teaching as an Act of Faith

NORTH PARKER Editorial Board

Universities are places of convergence—education occurs when contrasting ideas come together in ways the student has never before experienced.

David L. Parkyn President

At North Park, we foster the convergence of three critical ideals. Our vision statement makes this clear: We are a University “where faith, learning, and service meet.”

Mary K. Surridge Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Faith. Learning. Service. The intersection of these three identifies the essence of an education at North Park University.

Marcia Mawe Director of Marketing

In this issue of the North Parker we look at faith, the first of these ideals, and we do so in ways that identify how faith meets learning (and learning meets faith), especially as this takes place in the classroom and reaches across the city as students complete internships, clinical rotations, student teaching experiences, and other assignments “in the field.” Faculty are the primary mentors for our students when it comes to the intersection of faith and learning, so we have asked seven of our professors to write on the topic for this issue. Biology professors Matthew Schau and Yoojin Choi, for example, write about how they guide students to “turn the faith of the heart into the actions of the hand” in their future science careers. Education professor John Laukaitis wants tomorrow’s teachers to know “why their calling matters and how they can serve others for God’s glory.” These brief and varied essays reflect what all graduates of North Park know so well: the intersection of faith and learning is deep at North Park, and it can happen in as many different ways as there are courses and teachers, with each student embracing this convergence in ways particular to the individual. I’m confident you’ll enjoy reading this North Parker as much as I have, knowing that each reading will prompt memories of your own time at North Park and the experiences you embraced to bring faith, learning, and service together in your life. As you turn through the remaining pages of the magazine you’ll notice a number of changes in the way content is presented. Some of these are new with this issue: Across Campus on pages 2–9 presents more dynamic coverage of what’s happening from academics and research to Viking athletics and campus life. Other changes have been introduced in recent past issues, including bolder photography to enliven feature articles and a reenergized Alumni Notes to better showcase news about your classmates. Throughout, we remain dedicated to delivering a North Parker that will keep you well-connected to your University today, even while it warms your heart with memories of your own days on our campus.

David L. Parkyn President, North Park University

On the cover: Throughout our campus and across academic disciplines, faculty and students bring together faith, learning, and service. Learn more, starting on page 10.

Melissa Vélez-Luce C’04 G’12 Director of Alumni Relations

Editorial Staff Mary Nowesnick Editor John Potter C’05 News and Copy Editor Megan Gilmore C’05 G’13 S’13 Web Editor Tatjana Jovancevic Lead Designer Patty O’Friel Designer Chris Padgett Tricia Koning Anthony Barlich Photographers

2 Across Campus

New University leaders Winning Viking basketball Theatre alum’s campus comeback Future women physicists

Faith Forward

12 Dr. John J. Laukaitis 13 Dr. Helen Hudgens 14 Dr. Yoojin Choi & Dr. Matthew Schau 15 Dr. Ann Ownby Hicks 16 Dr. Christine A. Smith 17 Tim Lowly, Artist-in-Residence 18 Room for Prayer

Here’s how North Park professors integrate faith, learning, and service in our labs, classrooms, and beyond.

20 North Park: Home to Prestigious Fulbrights

A look at our record of success for student and faculty honorees since 2008

We Did It!

University and Seminary Commencement, and Golden Circle celebration

24 5 in 2015

Meet our graduates: Marielis and Hector Figueroa, Jacob Ives, Valerie Lee, and Philip Pendleton

26 Vikings Meet Vikings

Alumni and guests explored Scandinavian culture and enjoyed socializing at Chicago’s Field Museum.

28 Alumni Honors

2015 Seminary Award for Distinguished Service 40 Under 40: 16 North Parkers

30 Alumni Notes

See what’s happening with your classmates and other North Parkers.

Enjoy the North Parker online, too, with back issues for reading or download at www.northpark.edu/northparker

The North Parker is published twice a year for alumni and friends of North Park University, 3225 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625-4895. For mailing list adjustments, address changes, questions, or suggestions, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (773) 244-5273.

ACROSS CAMPUS

CLOSE-UP

University Welcomes New Senior Leaders North Park is welcoming two new members to the University’s senior leadership team. On May 1, Genaro Balcazar began his role as vice president for enrollment management and marketing. In this capacity, Balcazar will provide leadership for the areas of admissions and recruitment, marketing, student administrative services, and athletics. On July 1, Michael O. Emerson will join as the University’s new provost. As North Park’s chief academic officer, the provost carries broad responsibility for leadership of the undergraduate and graduate academic program. Recruitment Expertise Balcazar comes to North Park from Chicago’s DePaul University where he served in numerous enrollment capacities since 1998, including most recently as director of recruitment operations. Previously at DePaul he was director of admission operations, director of graduate admissions, and associate director of student services. Balcazar has nearly 20 years of experience in undergraduate and graduate admissions, recruitment and enrollment management. Previously, he worked in admissions and multicultural programming at Illinois Institute of Technology. Balcazar received his undergraduate education at Grinnell College, holds a master’s degree in information systems from DePaul, and is completing a leadership certificate in enrollment management from the University of Southern California. “North Park is a rich and vibrant university with many successes and an even more promising future,” Balcazar said. To alumni readers of the North Parker, Balcazar stresses that the support and participation of North Park alumni throughout the recruitment process is “critical to our ability to tell the University’s story to support future enrollment success.” In particular, he said, research

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Balcazar (left) and Emerson

indicates that prospective students who interact with alumni, particularly in the academic areas they are interested in, are much more likely to enroll than students who have not had this contact. “We will rely heavily on the wisdom, experience, and contributions of our alumni to help bring in future generations of North Park students to our campus,” said Balcazar. Academic Leadership For the past 15 years Emerson has been the Allyn R. & Gladys M. Cline Professor of Sociology and academic director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University in Houston. His scholarship there has focused on the urban context. Emerson is head of the International Global Cities Program, founding director of the Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life, and director of Rice’s Community Bridges Program, integrating service learning, course instruction, and community development in Houston.

Emerson is author or co-author of numerous books, including Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. He completed undergraduate studies at Loyola University Chicago, and holds master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I have spent my career thinking deeply about the issues that are North Park’s core values.” Emerson is drawn to serve as North Park’s provost because he identifies closely with the foundational commitments of the University. “Professionally, I have spent the entirety of my career thinking deeply about, researching, writing, and speaking on the issues that are North Park’s core values, its vision, and its mission,” he said.

Read more at www.northpark.edu/across-campus

YOU SAID

DIALOGUE Theatre Alum Makes a Campus Comeback As a theatre and performance major, Joseph Schupbach C’06 completed an internship with Barrel of Monkeys, an ensemble of actor-educators who lead creative writing workshops with CPS students. Today, Schupbach is artistic director for the company. Last November, he returned to direct the University’s fall production of Roustabout: The Great Circus Train Wreck! which included a sold-out Alumni Night. North Parker: What has it been like to return to North Park? Joseph Schupbach: I was excited about coming back and having students experiment with what was, in some ways, a different kind of storytelling for them. There’s something kind of idealistic about the show Roustabout, but it’s also tragic and hopeful, so it matches really well with artists who are coming into adulthood. NP: What was your path from intern to artistic director? JS: Most people don’t necessarily intern somewhere and then get a job where they’re in charge there about seven years later. But until that internship, I didn’t quite know there were jobs like this in the arts. Today, I direct approximately eight shows a year, and I’m also working with a group of 60 company members. It’s a dream situation as far as using my degree. NP: What do you tell North Park students who want to work in theatre? JS: These students are leaving the theatre and performance studies program with incredible skill sets. Also, North Park teaches you how to be nice. The thing that nobody really tells you but you just figure out yourself is that people remember kind people who do their job well. If you can get those two things right, you will do very well.

SERVICE North Park Joins Chicago-Wide Philanthropic Conversation

Tell Us More https://connect.northpark.edu facebook.com/NorthParkAlumni twitter.com/npualumni instagram.com/npuchicago

On May 12, thousands of people from around Chicago gathered at various locations to discuss ways to make our region the most compassionate and generous in the nation. This imaginative public square, “On the Table 2015,” was organized by the Chicago Community Trust. For the second consecutive year, North Park served as a host for five concurrent “On the Table” conversations. Discussions topics included education, healthcare, peace and justice, nonprofits, and diversity in higher education, and were

chosen with local partners Swedish Covenant Hospital and North River Commission. Crystal Williams, senior program manager at the University’s Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, served as an official event ambassador. “Philanthropy is an action word at North Park,” she said. “As a convener and connector, we have the opportunity to help our community discover new ways to extend the measure of their impact throughout Chicago.” The Chicago Community Trust is a major sponsor of the Axelson Center’s Annual Symposium for Nonprofit Professionals and Volunteers, taking place June 22 in Chicago. For details, visit www.northpark.edu/symposium.

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ACROSS CAMPUS

VIKINGS

ACCOLADES

CCIW All-Conference Honors Cap Winning Year for Basketball

Johnson Center Achieves LEED Gold Status

Three North Park University basketball student-athletes were named to the 2014–2015 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference team in March. Guard Liz Rehberger C’17 (top right) earned third-team honors, finishing in the top-10 in conference points per game (14.8), steals per game (2.2), and total three-point field goals. Forward Jordan Robinson C’18 (bottom left) earned third team honors after playing a key role in North Park’s 6-2 finish to the season. He averaged 16.3 points and nearly 6 rebounds per game over that stretch. Guard Juwan Henry C’17 (top left) earned a place on the AllConference first team. A three-time conference Player of the Week, Henry led the team and the conference in scoring, averaging 22.5 points per game. He also ranked in the CCIW top-five in assists (4.0), steals (1.8) and blocked shots (1.3) per game. The men’s team finished 15-10 on the year, its best since 2010–2011.

In February, the new Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life was awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, which establishes criteria for the construction of sustainable buildings. “We are very pleased to have been awarded LEED Gold,” said President David Parkyn. “The building is not only esthetically beautiful, but also functions efficiently and plays an important environmental role. That’s especially rewarding on our urban campus, and consistent with North Park’s mission as a Christian institution and as a steward of the environment.” Through this status, the University is able to minimize waste, reduce toxins, lower potential energy bills and operating costs, and achieve healthier indoor air quality. The North Park community also shared many ideas throughout the design process to create a space for all students, optimize outdoor space and daylight, and meet sustainability goals.

BY THE NUMBERS

men and women Viking basketball players

named to the 2014–2015 CCIW All-Conference Team in March

6,439

miles between hometowns of #1 tennis doubles team members Lisa Daniels C’18 (South Africa) and Gabriella Nordstrom C’18 (Sweden)

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2014–2015

The first full season for Viking women’s tennis, again a varsity sport at North Park

6-1

team record this season for Daniels and Nordstrom

ACADEMICS

New Academic Programs Address Organizational Leadership, Conflict Transformation

Trujillo

In May, 15 undergraduate students embarked on a unique international study trip to Northern Ireland—the first trip offered as part of the University’s new conflict transformation studies major. The experience built connections for students across theory, practice, and the real-life complications of creating peace in a challenging landscape. “Conflict is a universal experience—even though we don’t want it to be,” said Dr. Mary Adams Trujillo, professor of communications and co-director of the program.

“Conflict is a universal experience—even though we don’t want it to be.” Conflict transformation studies began as an undergraduate certificate at North Park 10 years ago and transitioned to a full major in Fall 2014. The program offers interdisciplinary courses tackling the pressing questions that emerge out of conflicts in Chicago, around the country, and across the world. “Conflict is part of our everyday life,” said major Carmen Velazquez C’16. “It doesn’t matter what socioeconomic class you belong to, your gender, the color of your skin, or your race: conflict will always be around.

Marsh

Conflict transformation teaches us to not try to remove conflict but to transform it into something positive and greater.” North Park’s setting in Chicago provides a rich backdrop for students to gain hands-on experience learning about conflict in urban and international relationships. Along with studying the history and context of global conflicts, courses provide opportunities for students to conduct research and analysis, and gain more self-awareness in an effort to pursue creative, nonviolent approaches to help in conflict situations. “Knowing there are others also fighting for social justice helps me to acknowledge the power of my own voice and actions,” said Velazquez. Master of Organizational Leadership to Launch Drawing on North Park’s long history of preparing its students to become effective leaders in their careers and communities, the School of Business and Nonprofit Management will launch a new master of organizational leadership in Fall 2015. Designed for senior executives and entry-level employees alike, the program combines leadership theory, ethics, and the advanced skills necessary to prepare students to become

effective leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. “A leader has to develop a whole different skill set,” said Dr. Catherine Marsh, who brings three decades of industry experience to the classroom as professor of management and leadership. “Leaders ask: ‘How do we get people to do jobs well? How do we inspire people to take risks? How do we see new possibilities?’ There is a need for people who have developed these competencies.” Amid shifting demographics and an increasingly global economy, the industrydriven curriculum will have immediate relevance in the marketplace and focus on how to lead change initiatives, implement strategic plans, increase organizational effectiveness, make decisions, build relationships with stakeholders, and cultivate the interpersonal skills that are needed to inspire commitment. Courses such as Change Leadership, Diversity and Conflict, Talent Development and Retention, and Measuring Outcomes and Assessment are among the classes offered. Students will take 13 core courses and five electives, providing an opportunity to customize the program to suit their professional interests and career goals.

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ACROSS CAMPUS

ACADEMICS Distinguished Senior Awards Recognize Extraordinary Leaders On April 20, Mary Aldugom, Chicago, and Daniel Raymond, Stillman Valley, Ill., were named recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Senior Awards. This honor is bestowed each year on one male and one female from the graduating class, recognizing extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, superior academic performance, and embodiment of the University’s mission of living lives of significance and service. Mary Aldugom, a psychology major, served as president of both the Psychology Club and the Middle East Student Association, and was actively involved in student government and the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Programs. In addition, Aldugom held internships with Swedish Covenant Hospital’s Neuro-Rehabilitation Center and Children’s Research Triangle. A first-generation college student, Aldugom is close to her family, especially her two younger sisters she helps care for. As a commuter student, she was committed to finding community at North Park. “Anyone can work hard and get a good GPA, but life Aldugom is about more than what you fill your resume with,” she said. “It’s the relationships. The people at North Park are always there for each other.” Aldugom has accepted a position at Children’s Research Triangle, and plans to complete a PhD in cognitive psychology in the future.

Daniel Raymond, a music education major, was honored for his leadership across North Park’s music programs and outside communities. He served in various roles at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp throughout the last five years, and is currently a music assistant at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. Raymond spent two years directing the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, served as bass section leader in the University Choir, was the assistant chorus master for the spring opera in 2014, and was chosen to be the student conductor at the 2014 Festival of Lessons and Carols. Raymond also played on North Park’s Ultimate Raymond Frisbee team throughout his four years, which was especially rewarding, he said, because of the travel and friendships he enjoyed. He completed his student teaching this spring at Niles North High School, with a goal of teaching choral music at the secondary level. “Academically, I’ve learned so much content at North Park, but more than anything, I’ve learned how to learn,” Raymond said. He will return to Covenant Harbor Bible Camp this summer to serve as worship director.

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University Partnership Expands College Opportunities North Park University, along with 13 other colleges nationwide, was chosen to partner with the Noble Network of Charter Schools to provide greater access to higher education for Noble Network’s undocumented graduating seniors. Beginning this fall, North Park will work with Noble, a Chicago-based network of public schools, and its Pritzker Access Scholarship program, to help close the financial aid gap for these students who are unable to obtain federal loans and scholarships. The agreement will be available to Noble seniors who have qualified for federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and are accepted to one “NORTH PARK IS of the four-year colleges A COMMUNITY included in the agreement. FOUNDED BY North Park will provide five IMMIGRANTS” undocumented students who received the scholarship with the financial support necessary to close the need for direct costs. “North Park is a community founded by immigrants over a century ago who were looking to better their lives through education,” said President Parkyn. “This partnership is an opportunity to continue that tradition and serve the students of Chicago.” These incoming students will also participate in the University’s COMPASS program, an intensive nine-day program that helps first-year students prepare for the academic and social challenges of college and adjust to life on campus. “Our mentoring programs at North Park focus on identifying student needs, helping them understand who they are, what their skills, interests, and abilities are, and find social and academic opportunities that lead toward students feeling a fit at the University,” said Director of Student Success Dr. Barrington Price C’06. “We look forward to welcoming these Noble Network students to campus and providing the support they need to excel in the classroom and long after they graduate.”

ACADEMICS Peer-Mentoring Programs Model Student Success

CAMPUS LIFE North Park Prepares Women for Careers in Physics

Focus on Food, Faith, and Our Future on Earth

Olivia Chisman C’15 spent the summer prior to her senior year in a research program at UCLA, where she joined nearly 500 physicists from around the world in observing the outcomes of a particle accelerator that runs for 2.4 miles underground. “I got to be part of weekly group meetings with expert physicists and present my project for feedback,” Chisman said. In January, she was invited to present her research at the American Physical In recent years, the University’s peermentoring programs, COMPASS and Lighthouse, have served as models for student success among area colleges and universities. In collaboration with the Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI), North Park joined Dominican University and Augustana College in building a “relationship bridge” between low-income, minority, and first-generation college students, the campus community, and the college’s social, academic, financial, and multicultural support services, with goals of college readiness and completion. At ACI’s annual public forum of community IN MAY, THE and higher education leaders LIGHTHOUSE last December, North Park PROGRAM GRADUATED ITS students and staff described FIRST SENIORS the programs and their impact on the lives of students. In May, the four-year-old Lighthouse program graduated its first seniors, with a retention rate above 90 percent. “North Park’s mission is to prepare students for lives of significance and service, and these mentor programs reflect our commitment to student preparation,” said Dr. Jodi Koslow Martin, vice president for student engagement. “Students who are mentored become acclimated to college life by their peers so that they find both academic and social success during their first year, which will lead to discovering how they will live a life of significance and service.”

Society’s Conference for Undergraduate Women. The goal of the conference was to support women physicists as they transition from a major to a career, and help combat the recent decline of women in the field. Joining Chisman, who also presented her research to an American Physical Society CHISMAN Division of Nuclear Physics PRESENTED HER RESEARCH meeting last fall in Hawaii, AT A NATIONAL were three more women PHYSICS students from North Park’s CONFERENCE physics and engineering programs, Anika Zima C’15, Azra Dizdarevic C’17, and Nayelii Duran C’18. Chisman was accepted into six physics PhD programs, and will begin her studies at Stony Brook University this fall. She credits North Park’s science programs for preparing her for graduate school and beyond. “The small class sizes and the way that North Park teaches physics requires students to take responsibility for their own learning, which is something that was infinitely important to my research,” Chisman said.

The 2014–2015 Campus Theme continued this spring with events throughout the semester. On February 20, Dr. Jacqueline Berning (top left), professor and chair of health sciences at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, focused on how eating is necessary for optimal performance in athletics and in the classroom: “If class starts at 8:00 am, how many students show up without breakfast and expect to be able to recall all the things that they’ve been studying?” On March 25, the University held a Campus Theme Day, featuring a chapel service, panel discussion, and “Poverty Banquet,” examining the diversity and disparity of how the world eats. Said Dr. Norman Wirzba (top right), professor of theology and ethics at Duke Divinity School: “Food is God’s expression of love for us. When we eat well, we participate in this love, and by sharing, extend God’s love to others.” Wirzba joined ecological economist Ryan Anderson C’05 (left), farmer Tim King C’06 (right), and advocate Ericka Elion G’16 S’16 (bottom left) for a discussion on “The Ethics and Economics of the Land.”

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ACROSS CAMPUS

CAMPUS LIFE Alum Returns to Address Humanitarian Policy

Johan Eldebo C’07, senior humanitarian policy advisor at World Vision since 2010, and an alum who majored in politics and government, spent a week on campus last November sharing his experiences with students. In his work, Eldebo (pictured above with Dean of the College Charles Peterson C’73) has responded to “FIGURE OUT WHAT IT TAKES international conflicts across TO MAKE A Africa and the Middle East. DIFFERENCE” Among his messages to students: “When you look around the world most problems are man-made. You have to figure out who’s in charge of what, who can actually make a difference, and what it takes to get them to a point where they want to make a difference.” Through Eldebo’s visit, “students got a sense that it is possible to make a significant contribution to the world with their North Park education and gained a glimpse into international initiatives,” said Dr. Mary Trujillo, co-director of the conflict transformation major. Eldebo’s career after North Park has included work at the United Nations Secretariat and earning a graduate degree at King’s College London, where he did research on conflict prevention.

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How to Commemorate MLK? Take Action

North Park University’s annual commemoration of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January focused on the opportunities presented at this particular moment in history. At the event, “What Is Civil—What Is Right? A Millennial Response,” Rev. Dr. Karen E. Mosby of Second Baptist Church, Evanston, Ill., spoke on the importance of intergenerational leadership in building momentum with a new social movement. “Out of the context of the perilous moments of 2014 came a movement led by a “EMBRACE THE PROPHETS GOD new generation,” Mosby said. “I believe the legacy of Dr. King demands that HAS RAISED we stop looking for another King and begin embracing the prophets God UP IN THIS has raised up in this millennial generation. To do so we must be willing to GENERATION” stop looking at the mountain tops long enough to gaze into the streets and classrooms where God is doing a new thing.” Following the service, students, faculty, and staff gathered in discussion groups guided by leaders from local advocacy organizations for sessions such as “Civil Rights Movement: Then and Now.”

Faculty and Staff Explore Faith in Our Workplace This year, the University’s annual professional development day for faculty and staff focused on expressing faith in the workplace. In an opening presentation, Student Support Specialist and master of divinity student Drew Tessler remarked, “The best way to describe my experience at North Park is like a seamless cloth. It’s my place of work, my ministry, my community, my place of learning. I get to live and work with transparency. It isn’t me, it’s God working seamlessly in our midst here at North Park that allows this to happen.” For more on how North Park integrates faith and learning, see our cover story on page 10.

GLOBAL Students Make Cross-Cultural Connections Worldwide

India

Mexico

Appalachia

India

South Africa

More than 100 North Park University students embarked on nine Global Partnerships trips this year, to countries including India, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and South Africa. Through University Ministries Global Partnerships trips, students learn, build relationships, and serve. On-site around the world, these students took part in opportunities for cross-cultural experiences that expanded their faith, their views of the world, and their commitment to a lifestyle of justice.

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We claim a high ideal for North Park University when we describe ourselves as “a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence where faith, learning, and service meet.”

FAITH FORWARD How do these three—faith, learning, and service—meet?

Specifically, how do they intersect in our classrooms, in student and faculty dialogue, and in research opportunities across the campus? Where do students encounter God, and how does God form students across academic programs ranging from art, biology, and business to education, nursing, and music?

This issue’s cover story features seven faculty members who responded to these questions by writing the essays that follow. While their reflections are as different as their disciplines, they all share a common theme best expressed by Associate Professor of Nursing Christine A. Smith: “Something special happens when we invite God into our classrooms.”

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SPEAKING TO AN ETHIC OF CARING AND LOVE Dr. John J. Laukaitis Assistant Professor of Education

“With God’s voice providing the path . . . I have a wonderful and great responsibility to prepare students for their vocation.”

At North Park University, I share my belief that God’s voice calls some to teaching. For many teacher candidates, God’s calling is heard early in life; for others, it is first heard in adulthood. Regardless of when God’s calling comes, I communicate the importance of knowing that this call is a gift and, as Scripture reads, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). With God’s voice providing the path for North Park students in the School of Education, I have a wonderful and great responsibility to prepare them for their vocation. The knowledge and skills required of the teaching profession constitute an important part of their education, but the foundation of why their calling matters and how they can serve others for God’s glory also holds a prominent and valuable place in my courses.

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At North Park, I am able to share my walk with Jesus Christ openly and reveal how he shapes my philosophy of teaching. In doing so, I am able to speak to an ethic of caring and love that knows no boundaries. I am blessed to be part of a University where the Christian faith is embraced and alive, for it provides me with opportunities to teach lessons that go well beyond traditional teacher education programs. Supporting students in finding strength in faith and knowing “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7) helps me provide them with an unshakeable foundation and prepare them to touch the lives of others deeply through their calling.

Integrating faith and learning is not a programmatic item I think about all that much. I come into class as a whole person—and that includes my commitment to follow Jesus. How this expresses itself does change depending on the class. In Gospel Choir I give devotionals and share scriptures and stories about the struggle for justice behind the music. It’s not quite so obvious in a music theory class where the day’s topic is “proper voice leading and resolution of seventh chords.” But it turns out that asking “How would Jesus approach this topic with these students?” is very much an exercise in the integration of faith and learning. Jesus practiced a kind of pedagogy that was not primarily directive or preachy. His lessons were individualized and based on a generous assessment of place, position, need, and giftedness in his listeners. His admonition, “Imitate me, not those who abuse their

dominator power positions,” might translate into “Be a facilitator with an empowering mindset.” Or “Assume students have gifts to bring and make room for them. Don’t just dump information and try to convince them to agree with you. Invite the quiet and more marginalized ones to be courageous and speak up.” Or “Quit punishing students who didn’t learn about seventh chords in high school by teaching over their heads.” For me, there’s a lovely sort of resonance among these intentions, like open strings catching the overtones of a curiously beautiful chord. The St. Francis quote (probably mythically attributed) is in tune: “Preach the gospel often. If necessary, use words.” I’m learning to improvise in this key.

“Jesus’s lessons were individualized and based on a generous assessment of place, position, need, and giftedness in his listeners.”

MAKING ROOM FOR STUDENTS’ GIFTS Dr. Helen Hudgens Associate Professor of Music

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TURNING FAITH OF THE HEART INTO ACTION Dr. Yoojin Choi Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Matthew Schau Professor of Biology

North Parker | Winter 2015

“The Christian value of life is presented as we guide our students to share their opinions and to embrace the diversity in viewpoints.”

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The 21st century promises rapid advances in the field of biology. As we train students to prepare for careers in this area we want to make sure our students are not only academically prepared and technically proficient but also have the ethical framework to ensure that their knowledge and skills are used for the greater good. In the spring of 2013, the North Park faculty adopted a new Core Curriculum, a part of which requires students to take an ethics course, ideally in their major. To meet this need for our biology majors, the biology department spent the 2013–2014 academic year developing a bioethics course. Under the leadership of Dr. Drew Rholl C’04, a course was created to teach students basic ethical frameworks and give them the opportunity to apply those to a variety of questions spanning the discipline. We worked with the philosophy department to draft a team-teaching model in which a faculty

member leads students in discussion around a topic in his or her area of expertise. This model challenges students to grapple with open-ended questions that will shape the discipline in the future. For example, when discussing the ethical parameters of genetic screening of in-vitro fertilized embryos, the Christian value of life is presented as we guide our students to share their opinions with their peers and to embrace the diversity in viewpoints. Some of our Christian students are both surprised and challenged by the wide range of opinions on the issues being examined. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to help students to turn the faith of the heart into actions of the hands in the place of their professional calling.

Faith and teaching can be addressed from both what we teach and how we teach, and the latter is the more important of the two. I find that the true presence of God in my classrooms lies in the concept of community—more specifically, a community of faith. Of all the ways to incorporate faith into the classroom, contributing to and creating this sense of community has been the most meaningful to me and, I hope, to my students. A community is created when there are common interests and goals and an attitude that encourages working together to achieve those goals. This sense of mutual concern is where I have felt the presence of God the strongest—and, I believe, is a living example of what I hope for my students as they move into their professional lives. I often find that students question whether Christianity is compatible with the profit motive often found in business. This generates opportunities for great discussions surrounding how we approach our work

with integrity. The Christian concept of stewardship is a great way to bring faith into the discussion. As Christians, we are called to be stewards of God’s gifts. As accountants and business leaders, we are entrusted to be stewards of the assets that we manage. We can learn much about how to approach that stewardship with integrity by looking to the Christian concept of stewardship. A former student once commented about my classes, “Professor Hicks did not just teach me about the statement of cash flows, she also taught me about ethics.” That epitomizes for me what I want my students to get from my classes. I absolutely want them to walk out of my classes with an understanding of accounting concepts. However, as a Christian, I also want my students to see that our faith should be reflected in everything we do in life—including our profession.

“I want my students to see that our faith should be reflected in everything we do in life—including our profession.”

ADVANCING THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF STEWARDSHIP Dr. Ann Ownby Hicks Professor of Accounting

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INSPIRING FAITH-BASED HEALTHCARE IN TODAY’S WORLD Dr. Christine A. Smith Associate Professor of Nursing

“Students are given not only an excellent education but also one that is shaped by the deep love of Christ for all people.”

Something special happens when we invite God into our classroom. Each of my classes begins in prayer, and together we acknowledge God’s presence and our dependence upon him. Personally, I sense a need to call upon God for wisdom and guidance as I teach. Moreover, God has blessed North Park with many godly students who also have a genuine passion for prayer. During this time, students are invited to share prayer requests with the class. Then when we pray, we acknowledge God’s love for each student; we ask God to intervene in each spoken and unspoken request, and we trust that the Lord will use each student as a blessing to others in their future work as nurse practitioners. God’s place in the classroom extends beyond these few minutes at the beginning of each class. For example, we discuss the inherent dignity of each person. This dignity is from God because we are created in God’s image. Additionally, we discuss attributes of compassion, justice, and mercy and how each of these provides a strong foundation for a healthy understanding of what it means within the context of caring for others.

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As a clinician, I previously served for many years at Circle Family Care and more recently at Lawndale Christian Health Center. Both clinics are located on the West Side of Chicago and provide healthcare to underserved communities and the homeless. Given the profound similarities between the Christian mission of these organizations and North Park University, it has afforded me numerous opportunities to invite students to participate in serving the homeless through healthcare and education. Additionally, I have mentored many students in the clinic which has been especially helpful to those who are interested in providing faith-based healthcare in the urban environment. It is my desire that because of the Christian identity of North Park University, students are given not only an excellent education but also one that is shaped by the deep love of Christ for all people.

I started teaching advanced drawing classes, including figure drawing, at North Park University in the latter ’90s. This semester, it’s figure drawing, and like many years, we started the semester working on a collaborative project. These projects have a primary intent of developing community among the students and, as such, are intended to act as an expression of the body of Christ. Three years ago Tony Zamblé, director of University Ministries, suggested that we develop a project that addressed different cultural perspectives on the life of Jesus. The project that Professor of Art Kelly VanderBrug and I developed and are still working on is simply called “the Jesus project.” For the project each student chooses a country or culture and explores its practices of representation; selects a specific text related to the life of Jesus that seems fitting for the country or culture they’ve chosen; and represents the text in a way that seems stylistically fitting.

The resulting images have been predictably eclectic, but the common use of ink on gessoed panel has provided aesthetic continuity for the total project. Yes, you might say, but isn’t this a figure drawing class? It is indeed. We do draw extensively from the live model. In doing that we take seriously the idea of the Imago Dei, that is, the image of God. Certainly, we believe, Jesus was the Image of God and the Jesus project is a corporate reflection on what that means. But there is more: Scripture tells us we humans were created in the image of God. As such, to draw (that is, to “image”) the body of our fellow humans is to enter into an examination of, and meditation on, that great mystery of the Imago Dei.

“To draw (that is, to ‘image’) the body of our fellow humans is to enter into that great mystery of the Imago Dei.”

EXAMINING THE MYSTERY OF THE IMAGE OF GOD Tim Lowly Assistant Professor of Art Artist-in-Residence

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 17

ROOM FOR

PRAYER

From Wednesday morning services at Anderson Chapel to private moments of reflection near the Campus Green, there is always time—and space—for prayer across North Park University. University Ministries leads a full campus calendar of worship and services throughout the academic year, from the fall’s first Sunday evening Collegelife services in Anderson Chapel to the final blessings conferred upon graduates at May Commencement. From Vespers to the voices of the Gospel Choir, worship and learning fill the Seminary and its Isaacson Chapel. The Johnson Center for Science and Community Life, opened just last fall, offers the newest faith-focused setting on campus: A dedicated prayer room, situated near the first floor lobby, that is open every day to students, faculty, and visitors. The prayer room is named in honor of the late Lois R. Brorson C’50 and her life of deep faith and generosity. It is “a place of reflection, calm, and connection with God,” says local sculptor David Orth who created several unique furnishings for the room: a cross and bench made of the wood from a mulberry tree that once stood on the building’s grounds. Orth used a special Japanese treatment called “shou sugi ban” that scorched and abraded the surface of the wood to “let it be transformed to another life.” The prayer room is as important to the mission of the Johnson Center as its many modern science labs and classrooms, and multiple spaces for student interaction and involvement, says President David Parkyn. “When it comes to student learning and success at North Park University, faith makes a difference.”

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North Parker | Winter 2015

COMMENCEMENT

fulbrightS FLOURISH From 2008 to 2015, 14 North Park students have been awarded distinguished Fulbright awards, along with three faculty Fulbright Scholars. North Park University was named by the U.S. Department of State, which administers the Fulbright program, one of the country’s top-performing institutions in 2013–2014 for producing the most Fulbright students. “One of the ways that Fulbright has flourished here is because of the support the faculty and administration gives to the program,” says Dr. Linda K. Parkyn, professor of Spanish and faculty associate for the University’s Fulbright program. She is joined by these members of the Campus Fulbright Committee: Interim Provost Craig Johnson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Charles Peterson, Professor of History Susan Rabe, Professor of Education Angelyn Balodimas-Bartolomei, and a revolving faculty member. Together, they help students craft essays, read their statements, and provide the coaching that is required for North Park students to be competitive.

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The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program of the U.S. government. It was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator William J. Fulbright of Arkansas. Most North Parkers awarded Fulbrights serve as English Teaching Assistants, teaching English in countries ranging from Andorra to Turkey (see list at right). Parkyn, who has been a Fulbright Scholar and twice a Fulbright Senior Specialist, is the champion of North Park’s program, and readily admits to having “Fulbrightis.” She provides intensive one-on-one coaching to the students who choose to go through the rigorous application process. Good candidates, Parkyn says, have stellar grades, a keen interest in some other part of the world, involvement with immigrants and/or refugees at home, and knowledge of another language. “Fulbright is a prestigious award. But to have this experience early in your life, to give back your first year out of college and become an American ambassador sharing language and culture, it will affect your career choices for the rest of your life—and affect change for good in our world!”

Fulbright Student Awards Countries where North Park alumni served as English Teaching Assistants: Kate Asnicar C’15 – Malaysia Natalie Wilson C’15 – Ecuador Kendra Pearson C’14 – Mexico Bailey Schwartz C’13 – Turkey Timothy Ahlberg C’13 – Mexico* Samuel Auger C’13 – Bulgaria Michelle Wells C’12 – Colombia Karen Kelly C’12 – Andorra Aaron Nilson C’11 – Brazil Michael Nelson C’11– Poland Ruth Blidar C’10 – Romania Laura Johnson C’10 – Mexico Riley Clark C’09 – Mexico* Rebecca Miller C’07 – Indonesia (2008) * Completed business internship Fulbright Faculty Scholars Dr. Linda K. Parkyn, Professor of Spanish – Honduras 2008, Mexico 2001–02, 2006 Dr. Nnenna Okore, Associate Professor of Art – Nigeria 2012 Dr. Dennis Bricault, Professor of Spanish – Guatemala 2014

Fulbright Factoids ·T he Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to do international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. ·T he U.S. Student program currently awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. · Approximately 325,400 Fulbrighters, 122,800 from the United States and 202,600 from other countries, have participated in the Fulbright Program since its inception more than 60 years ago. · Alumni of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program go on to many professions, including ambassadors, members of Congress, judges, heads of corporations, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors, and teachers. Former grantees include: Bose Corporation founder Amar Bose, actor John Lithgow, composer Philip Glass, opera singer Renee Fleming, and economist Joseph Stiglitz.

Kate Asnicar C’15

Natalie Wilson C’15

Asnicar graduated in May with a bachelor of arts in history and a minor in global studies. In January 2016, she will travel to Malaysia to serve as an English Teaching Assistant through next November. “Although most of the details are still to come, I know that I will be placed in a primary school, secondary school, or university to help students improve their English skills as well as share cultural experiences and practices,” Asnicar said.

A double-major in elementary education and Spanish, Wilson graduated in May with an endorsement in ESL (English as a Second Language) education. Beginning this September, she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant for a 10-month placement in Ecuador. Although the specifics of her grant haven’t been finalized, Wilson expects to be teaching English and U.S. culture to students at the university level.

“The opportunities provided to me through studying abroad in Turkey last year, as well as the support and guidance from the faculty, have shaped the path I’m about to embark on,” said Asnicar. “I’m thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to see the world and cannot wait to get there.”

“I have had so many opportunities to learn about and experience an array of cultures through coursework, clinical experiences, and activities at North Park,” Wilson said. “Both the School of Education and the Spanish department have fully prepared me to teach in a foreign country and culture.”

While at North Park, Asnicar, of Olathe, Kan., worked in the Writing Center, served as a University Ministries worship leader, and was a member of the Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble. “There are so many decisions to wonder about, but coming to North Park and fulfilling my degree here was, without a doubt, the best decision I have made in my adult life,” she says. “I feel that even after I’ve graduated, I’ll stay in contact with faculty I’ve grown close to, and will continue to be supported in all of my future endeavors.”

A native of Shoreview, Minn., Wilson combined her love of teaching and engaging other cultures throughout her time at North Park. She served as an Urban Outreach site leader for the tutoring program at nearby Peterson Elementary School; taught adult ESL summer courses through CLUES, a nonprofit organization; and studied abroad in Ecuador last year.

Asnicar plans to travel and apply to graduate school following her Fulbright experience.

When Wilson completes her Fulbright service, she will move back to Chicago, where she hopes to continue teaching. “I have been able to apply what I’ve learned in my education courses to my clinical teaching experiences at Chicago-area schools,” she said. “When I return to the United States, I plan to look for a teaching position in the Chicago Public Schools at the elementary level.”

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COMMENCEMENT

CELEBR ATING

achievement North Park University presented degrees to a total of 756 graduates during the 2014â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2015 academic year. The total includes 254 degrees presented December 12, 2014, at Winter Commencement, and 502 degrees awarded May 9, 2015, at the 122nd Spring Commencement ceremonies. The baccalaureate service was held May 8 at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago. Find more photos of Commencement Day at www.northpark.edu/CommencementPhotos. Golden Circle Members of the North Park Academy, College, and Seminary Classes of 1965 were honored on the 50th anniversary of their graduation (below). These graduates are inducted into the Golden Circle, which recognizes their very special milestone. Golden Circle graduates march in gold caps and gowns at University and Seminary commencement ceremonies, attend a special luncheon, and receive a memory book.

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5 in 2015 To offer a closer look at some of our newest alumni, we introduce you to five May graduates (see pages 24â&#x20AC;&#x201C;25) who share some of what they learned and enjoyed at North Park, and where they hope to go next in life.

COMMENCEMENT

5 IN

2015 Every year commencement celebrates the collective success of our graduates. Here, we introduce you to five graduates— and some of our newest alumni—from the Class of 2015. They share a few of their best lessons, favorite memories, and personal hopes for what’s next after North Park.

Philip J. Pendleton BA, Communication Studies Best lessons During my North Park years I have realized the importance of relationships and maximizing the resources available to me. As a transfer student I had to get used to a new environment and culture, but after I developed relationships with faculty and staff, I had numerous opportunities that have been very influential to my academic advancement. Favorite memories Being voted twice to the CCIW All-Conference team and being part of the Viking football team led by Coach Mike Conway that broke a 13-year conference losing streak in the 2013–2014 season. Many of my professors, including Dr. Max Lee, Dr. Velda Love, Dr. Mary Trujillo, and Dr. Rupe Simms, stressed the importance of social consciousness and instilled in me spiritual principles that I will cherish and use throughout my life. I also appreciated working in the Division of Student Engagement to enhance my professional skills and also get real-world experience through internships with Torrey & Gray and the Associated Colleges of Illinois. What’s next? I plan on traveling, pursuing my goal of playing professional football in the United States or overseas, and expanding Upscale Promotions, my company which focuses on international marketing and public relations.

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Valerie Lee BA, Spanish BA, Elementary Education Best lessons North Park is a unique place and I am very privileged to have been at such a life-giving university. I’ve learned many lessons here, some that were harder to learn and some that were blessings. I’ve learned to plan ahead when it comes to class schedules and breakfast, but to leave the rest open for what the Lord wants to do with my path. Favorite memories Joining the women’s rowing team and becoming captain was the opportunity of a lifetime! My love for the Spanish language was also a major part of my formation at North Park. In the spring of my sophomore year I, along with Professor Cherie Meacham, her husband, Jeff, and nine other students, flew to Ecuador for an unforgettable semester in the beautiful city of Cuenca. I will cherish the friendships and memories formed in that amazing country for many, many years to come. ¡Gracias a todos! What’s next? This summer in El Salvador I will serve as a volunteer translator/interpreter for people from U.S. churches who come to work in that country’s impoverished communities. In the fall, I hope to start teaching in an ESL classroom in the Chicago Public School system. I would love to stay in Chicago, which I have come to know and love so well!

Marielis Figueroa BGS, Business Administration Best lessons As a mother, wife, business woman, worship leader, and student, time management is essential. Learning the difference between important and urgent in my first class at North Park gave me a better understanding of what I should be spending my time on, and it served as my guide throughout my North Park years. Favorite memories I have tons of special moments at North Park. Being able to attend school with my husband (right) was very special. The entire staff of the School of Adult Learning was phenomenal, especially Julie Westerman, my advisor. They all kept me on track. And the passion each professor had while teaching was contagious. It was truly an amazing experience. What’s next? I just started my own business because I want to work from home to be able to spend more time with my children. My business is called MEK Dispatching. We dispatch freight to our clients who are carriers and owner operators. My dad was a truck driver for many years and had a trucking company where I helped him dispatch freight loads. It was a fun and chaotic experience and in a way this business is a continuation of my dad’s work.

Hector Figueroa BGS, Management Information Systems

Jacob Ives BA, Business and Economics BA, Biblical and Theological Studies

Best lessons One of the best lessons I learned at North Park is that Christianity can be infused throughout our daily living. Many professors bring Jesus into the classroom through their teaching which I believe truly does glorify God. Christianity stands out not just as a religion but as a lifestyle of believing in what Jesus stood for.

Best lessons One day I casually asked a faculty member how she was and then she asked me. But I was not able to answer, because I was not good, and I knew she could tell. Her response was simple: Just because it hurts does not mean it’s bad. A simple lesson, but an important one for me to understand the crucial role of pain and conflict in growth. My experience at North Park has also taught me about the need to have different opinions, perspectives, and values represented when making my decisions.

Favorite memories I couldn’t spend a lot of time on campus due to the busy schedule my wife (left) and I have with two kids. But I can say that my favorite people are the professors and staff in the School of Adult Learning. I have dealt with other schools and, without a doubt, North Park professors truly do understand what adults students go through. They want to help students, not just give out grades. What’s next? I pray for doors to open so I can further my career. Advancing in my career is one of the biggest reasons for completing this degree. No more hearing, ‘Sorry, you don’t have a bachelor’s degree.’ I also plan on earning my master’s degree in computer science—but after a period of rest, as I want to dedicate more time to my family first.

Favorite memories Some of my favorite memories have happened at North Park soccer games: Everyone has just come back to campus and you get the chance to paint up, let loose, and watch some really good soccer. I have also enjoyed my experience as president of the Student Government Association to represent the student body at North Park. And all my hours with faculty members have been essential to my personal, spiritual, and professional development. What’s next? My short-term plan is to go to law school. Before that I am planning to take two gap years, one here in the United States and another abroad. Long term, I hope to find a career that allows me to use my skills, work hard, and make a positive impact.

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 25

ALUMNI EVENTS

Vikings Meet Viki North Parker | Winter 2015

26 4

ALUMNI NOTES

More than 90 North Park alumni and friends celebrated the opening of Vikings, the latest cultural exhibition at Chicago’s Field Museum. Passport to Scandinavia was a special event held on Wednesday, March 18, by the Field Museum and a host committee that included North Park University. The evening featured Scandinavian cuisine and live music, a performance by the Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago, and curated access to the museum’s Vikings exhibition.

kings

The exhibition showcases the travel, trade, religion, crafts, and history of the ancient Scandinavian culture, featuring more than 500 artifacts, many never before seen outside Scandinavia. The Field Museum exhibition runs through October 4, 2015.

North Park alumni and guests explored Scandinavian culture and enjoyed socializing at Chicago’s Field Museum. (1) Guests received a curated view of the Vikings exhibition, with staff members available to discuss traditional dress, artifacts, and crafts. (2) Sharon (Rich) Peterson C’79 explores the displays of archaeological discoveries. (3) The evening provided an opportunity for connection and conversation. L-R: Sarah Snow C’04, Doug Nystrom C’70, Jane Swanson-Nystrom C’78, Laurie (Elowson)

Bakken C’84, and Keith Bakken C’85 G’06. (4) North Parkers saw that most people living in Scandinavia during the Viking Age were farmers, not warriors. They did not call themselves Vikings unless they were out on “a Viking,” an old Norse term for a commercial trip or raid. (5) Laurie Thorpe C’89 and Christine (Thorpe) Olfelt C’86 visit with Don Nelson C’88 S’94. (6) Bobbie Zerfas C’04 and Matt Whitesell C’04 performed with the Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago.

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 27 5

ALUMNI HONORS

Where Deep Passion Meets Deep Need

Marisol Martinez S’04 North Park Theological Seminary Award for Distinguished Service

The Seminary Award for Distinguished Service recognizes Seminary alumni who have made significant contributions in their field while living a life reflective of the core values and mission of North Park Theological Seminary. This year’s honoree is Marisol Martinez S’04, who was elected president of the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church of Mexico (IEMP) in August 2014. The award was presented to Martinez by Rev. Dr. David W. Kersten C’77 S’82 S’97, dean of the Seminary, in January at the Evangelical Covenant Church’s Midwinter Conference in Denver (right). Martinez hopes the Mexican Covenant Church, which is comprised of 46 congregations, can be a “stronger voice” in addressing Mexico’s social crisis. In an interview with the Covenant News Service, she said that being the first woman president speaks to the spirit of the Mexican Covenant Church: “As men and women God uses both of us and it’s not a competition or that men are better than women or men have more value than women. In Christ, as a body, both women and men have gifts that he has given to the church so that we can grow in Christ, as a community, and as a family.” A native of Mexico City, Martinez graduated from North Park Theological Seminary in 2004 with a master’s degree in Christian ministry. She also holds a master’s in social work and a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from Universidad Anahuac del Norte, Mexico. Martinez also served as a short-term missionary in Galicia, Spain, and is currently a member of the Tlalpan Covenant Church in Mexico City. In the following Q & A with the North Parker, Martinez reflects on her experiences at North Park Theological Seminary and the lasting impact of a mentor’s advice that “our call is where deep passion meets deep need.” North Parker: What does it mean to you to be recognized by the Seminary with this award for distinguished service? Marisol Martinez: This is a great honor. It is a powerful statement of support and encouragement from the Seminary community. Sometimes the fruit of ministry is not visible but we trust our Sovereign Lord in that the timing and results belong to God and that our labor in his name is not in vain, as 1 Corinthians 15:58 says.

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North Park Seminary should be very proud of its work because many, many of its graduates are faithful, committed ministers who reflect the core values and mission of NPTS. I came to NPTS because most of the missionaries I knew had studied there and I definitely admire all of them! Their character and competency is unquestionable. NP: How does your Seminary experience continue to influence your work, as well as your personal and spiritual development?

MM: I could not relate more to the Seminary´s core values and mission. I particularly engage with what is stated as the Seminary’s educational philosophy: to relate the great commission (Matthew 28:16–20), the great commandment (Matthew 22:36–40), and care for creation (Genesis 1). I dream of a church living this out and it is my life goal.

40 Under 40 Covenanters: Count 16 North Parkers

NP: In your work with the church in Mexico, what are your top priorities to address? MM: Since I was elected, my desire is to be a facilitator for what the Holy Spirit wants to do among us. My heart is for a healthy church fully living out kingdom values and being a light in darkness, and salt against corruption. In recent years the three priorities of the IEMP were unity, church planting, and having our own seminary. I believe these are very important goals and I will continue to reinforce them. I also believe that to fulfill all the dreams God has for our church, we need to focus on developing more leaders and our culture needs to be a healthier one, one of assetbased thinking, honoring and following our agreements, and excellence and transparency in all we do. NP: You have said that it is crucial for the church to have a stronger voice in addressing Mexico’s social crisis. What are the major challenges that face the church and your ministry? MM: It could be that the challenges we face can become our greatest opportunities. Our history, at least in the past 50 years, is of a governing class whose main goal is to remain in power no matter the cost. This has brought constant economic and social crisis affecting mostly the vulnerable such as the indigenous communities, the poor, young people, and women. We are experiencing violence at different levels, family, schools, armed robbery, labor and sexual exploitation, lack of justice, and corrupted systems. The drug cartels continue growing and taking over entire communities. There is also strong spiritual darkness. For many Mexicans, hope is dying. This is the time for the church in Mexico to proclaim in word and deeds that the true king of this world is Christ and that his agenda has already started, and it is one of restoration and justice.

NP: What do you feel are your major accomplishments in terms of bringing about change? MM: God has used me in building and strengthening organizational structures. I have participated in pioneer work, helping to transition from a dream into an organized action. Coming from a community development background, I know the need to identify tiny changes because transformation may take several generations to be visible. I am still expecting great things from God in bringing transformation to this world. NP: What are your favorite memories of your years at North Park Seminary? MM: Good conversations and fellowship with classmates, praying once a week with Johnna and Ryan for the Seminary community, listening to the teaching of Klyne Snodgrass, and the support and care I received from Jerry Reed. NP: What career or life advice would you give to today’s Seminary students? MM: I would say that God has a plan and it will come to be. I don’t like waiting or not knowing what is ahead. Twice after Seminary I missed the opportunity to apply learning. This third time I decided to trust. After a year of waiting without knowing the future, I was elected as president of the IEMP. Trusting God means sometimes waiting without knowing what is coming but being sure that God has not forgotten you.

The January/February 2015 issue of the newly redesigned Covenant Companion magazine featured 16 North Parkers among 40 Covenanters under the age of 40 who are “serving in both quiet and pronounced ways in churches, classrooms, offices, and numerous other venues.” The reason for recognizing “40 Under 40,” reports the Companion, which is the official magazine of the Evangelical Covenant Church, is to tell “the full story” about young adults in the Church, especially in the ECC. Featured North Park alumni—and a sampling of how they are making a difference—include: • Jeremy Bower C’01 S’10, Brigade Chaplain, Minnesota Army National Guard • David Bjorlin C’06 S’11, Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts, Resurrection Covenant Church, Chicago • Nicole Bullock S’07, Professor, Bethel Seminary, Minneapolis • Mae Elise Cannon G’06 S’06, Senior Director, Advocacy and Outreach, World Vision US, Springfield, Va. • Michelle Dodson C’03, Associate Pastor, New Community Covenant Church, Chicago • Rebekah Eklund C’97 S’03, Associate Professor of Theology, Loyola University Maryland • Dominique DuBois Gilliard S’12, Executive and Youth Pastor, New Hope Covenant Church, Oakland • Joshua Hiben C’12, Executive Director, Covenant Youth Collision, Chicago • Brady Josephson C’07 G’08, Client Strategist, Chimp Technologies, Vancouver • Jodi Moore S’06, Lead Pastor, Ceresco Covenant Church, Ceresco, Neb. • Hauna Ondrey C’03 S’11, Teaching Fellow in Church History, North Park Theological Seminary • Erik Strom C’01 G’07 S’07, Executive Director, Covenant Point Bible Camp, Iron River, Mich. • Lars Stromberg S’06, Pastor to Youth and Families, Hinsdale Covenant Church, Hinsdale, Ill. Also highlighted are current North Park students: Terrance Smith, music major, and Jenny Rae Armstrong, who is pursuing a master in divinity. Meztli Gonzalez also attended North Park. Read more about the featured 40 at www.covenantcompanion.com.

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 29

ALUMNI NOTES

ALUMNI NOTES SUMMER 2015

1950s

1970s

1990s

Members of the Academy Class of ’59 celebrated their 55th reunion during Homecoming 2014 weekend with a dinner at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore. (1)

An open house for the Class of ’79 was hosted by Jim Brucker C’79 S’83 and Kris (Carlson) Bruckner C’79 during Homecoming 2014 weekend. (3)

The Class of 1994 had a great turnout at Homecoming 2014 for their 20th reunion, which included a party at the home of Doug Schiller C’94 and Kim (Edstrom) Schiller C’92. (5)

1960s

1980s

To celebrate his 70th birthday, Stephen Swanson C’68 gave a faculty recital at the University of Iowa. North Parkers who traveled to Iowa for the event gathered for an impromptu breakfast the next morning. Pictured (left to right) are son Lars Swanson, Jim Martins C’66, Nancy (Strandine) Barnes C‘69, Gunnard Swanson C‘68, daughter Kari Swanson, Suzanne and Paul Betts C’67, and Steve Swanson C’68. Marilyn (Schultz) Swanson C’67 was behind the camera. (2)

Beth (Windmiller) Fredrickson C’80 writes: “With Andrew’s graduation on December 12, 2014, all five members of the Fredrickson family can proudly call themselves North Park graduates!” Pictured (left to right) are Beth with her family: Peter Fredrickson C’12, Andrew Fredrickson C’14, Rachel (Fredrickson) Woofter C’09, and John Fredrickson C’75. (4)

Classmates Jennifer (Palmberg) Johnson C’94, Libby (Johnson) Piotroski C’94 G’99, Jill (Anderson) Ullanderson C’94, and Jorie (Ramgren) Judisch C’94 enjoyed the chance to reconnect—and reminisce about their days as roommates—during Homecoming last fall. (6)

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In 2013, Peter Peterson C’99 graduated from UCLA with a PhD in computer science. He and his wife, Annalisa, celebrated their 10th anniversary last year and welcomed a baby, Sigrid, who turned one year old on March 29, 2015. Peter and his family moved back to the Duluth, Minn., area last fall, and in January he began work as assistant professor of computer science at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

2000s More than 50 members of the Class of ’04 gathered to celebrate their 10th reunion during Homecoming 2014, including a Saturday night party at Big Bricks Pizza. (7) Shazad Carbaidwala is currently working as a project manager at SAP America, in addition to owning a nutritional business since 2004. He writes, “I look back on my years at North Park and remember the great memories and people I have met.” Shazad and his wife, Batul Kaj, live in Philadelphia. (8) Sarah Johnson C’02 married Rodger White on October 25, 2013. The ceremony took place at Winnetka Covenant Church and a reception was held at Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette, Ill. North Parkers in the wedding included Lauren Carlson C’02, Becky (Wells) Scholten C’02, and Emily (Johnson) Chernisky C’05. Sarah and Rodger honeymooned in Grand Cayman and currently live in Chicago. (9)

Heather (Loutsch) O’Neill C’02 and her husband, Spencer, announce the birth of their baby boy, Liam Harrison, on December 27, 2014. He weighed 6 lb. 8 oz. and was 21 inches long. Liam was welcomed by his parents and big sister, Scarlett. The O’Neill family lives in Eugene, Ore. (10) Mary (Nutkins) Elsesser C’03 and Philip Elsesser C’04 announce the birth of their son, Gabriel Martin. Baby Gabe is excitedly welcomed by his older brother, Austin. (11) Bryan Jackson C’04 married Lindsey Pitman on August 2, 2014, (a wonderfully sunny day) in Saratoga, Calif. Bryan is a forecaster with the Baltimore-Washington National Weather Service Forecast Office and Lindsey is an advancement associate with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. They now live in Falls Church, Va. Groomsmen included Jeff Hakanson C’04, Mark Hakanson C’04, and Doug Ishikawa C’04. (12)

Kyle Wujcik C’05 and Theresa Wujcik announce the arrival of their daughter, Ella Lou Wujcik. (13) Paula Hensel C’04 G’07 has been promoted to director of faculty affairs at the University of Louisville, where she has been employed since 2009. In her new role, Paula will direct the overall operation of the University of Louisville’s Faculty Affairs Office, and in conjunction with the Vice Provost, oversee personnel matters for the University of Louisville’s 2,300 faculty members. Nat Fondell C’07 and Ellen (Moore) Fondell joyfully welcomed son Oskar Daniel into the world on August 29, 2014. Oskar joins big sister Everly. The Fondells live in Minneapolis, Minn. (14)

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 31

ALUMNI NOTES

We’re eager to keep all of our alumni informed and involved in the University and the Seminary. Here are all the ways you can stay in touch with us—and with classmates and other alumni: North Park Connect is an online community just for alumni. Update your contact information when you move, earn a graduate degree, or accept a new job; view and register for alumni events; and join the online alumni directory, where you can reconnect with classmates or build your professional network by connecting with fellow alumni in your area or industry. Go to https://connect.northpark.edu. You can also connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/northparkalumni and on Twitter at twitter.com/npualumni. 32 NORTH PARKER | Winter 2015

Connect with North Park

North Park University’s new Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) program creates opportunities for young alumni to stay connected, access services for professional advancement, and participate in social and networking events year-round. Go to www.northpark.edu/Alumni/GOLD. To stay up-to-date anytime on upcoming alumni events and reunions, benefits and resources available to alumni, issues of the North Parker, ways to give to North Park, and more, visit www.northpark.edu/alumni. For more information, alumni can contact Melissa Vélez-Luce C’04 G’12, director of alumni relations, by phone, email, mail, or by making an appointment to visit in person. For details, go to www.northpark.edu/alumni/contact.

ALUMNI NOTES

Tom Bracy C’11 G’14 G’15 is now director of educational programs at Elkhart, Ind.-based Conn-Selmer Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments. In his new role, Tom is responsible for building and cultivating relationships with key educational influencers. He previously served as executive director of Merit School of Music in Chicago. He will also continue to operate his Chicago-based consulting firm, Bracy Group, Inc., specializing in organizational development and marketing. (15) Evan Gawel C’11 and Nicole (Anderson) Gawel C’12 welcomed son Hunter Evan Gawel on January 29, 2015, at 7:04 am. Hunter weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 18 inches long.

Who Are North Park’s Future Alumni?

(16)

As a North Park alum, you already know how special our University community is. If you know any students who might be a good fit for North Park, please tell us about them at and we’ll get in touch. Go to www.northpark.edu/futurealumni.

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 33

ALUMNI NOTES

Aaron K. Olson C’96 and B. Keith Simerson are co-authors of the new book Leading with Strategic Thinking, published by Wiley & Sons. The book focuses on four ways effective leaders gain insight, drive change, and get results. Leading with Strategic Thinking is based on a study of more than 300 leaders and a graduate course that Olson and Simerson teach at Northwestern University. It includes case studies featuring leaders from organizations including Google, Design for America, Indiegogo, and the YMCA.

More than 50 North Parkers, representing a wide range of class years, were in attendance at AlumniConnection: Arizona on March 21, where they enjoyed a Chicago Cubs Spring Training game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. (17) Enjoying the day were (from left) Christy Rojas C’03 and Lea Hollis C’03, with Director of Alumni Relations Melissa Vélez-Luce C’04 G’12. (18)

34 NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015

Olson is chief talent officer for Aon plc, responsible for enterprise-wide talent management and organizational development. He helps leaders and organizations link business and talent strategy. Find out more at www.leadingwithstrategicthinking.com. (19)

ALUMNI IN MEMORIAM NOTES

Crendalyn McMath Fitzgerald of Chicago, known as “Cren” to her students and colleagues, passed away February 13. As associate professor of marketing and advertising since 2002 in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management, Fitzgerald, 49, leaves a legacy of inspiring undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders in their communities. Fitzgerald served as faculty lead in the undergraduate advertising major, challenging students to look beyond their own experiences and gain a broad understanding of the role culture plays in people’s decision making. Before coming to North Park, Fitzgerald served as the founding director for the Center for Urban Business at the University of Illinois at Chicago, founded and ran a television and video production company, and was president of Kennedy Taylor Corporation. Fitzgerald grew up in an Evangelical Covenant Church on the South Side of Chicago, learning her entrepreneurial drive from her family’s neighborhood restaurant. She went on to earn a bachelor of science in marketing and a master of business administration from the University of Illinois Chicago.

“The passion our faculty show their students is the heart and soul of our University,” said President David Parkyn. “Cren was a shining example of that, and our prayers and sympathy extend to her family and loved ones.” Cren is survived by her husband, Ephriam, daughters Eren and Courtney, and her parents. A memorial service for the North Park University community to celebrate the life and memory of Crendalyn was held February 24 in Isaacson Chapel. (20) Elder M. Lindahl C’48 S’60 passed away on November 3, 2014, in Golden Valley, Minn. He was born April 5, 1926, in Iron River, Mich. In addition to his degrees from North Park, Elder also received a BA from Michigan State University, MA from the University of Michigan, and PhD from Northwestern University. On August 5, 1950, he married Muriel Johnson at First Covenant Church in Chicago. They were married for 62 years and raised their family in the North Park community in Chicago. Elder and Muriel had four children: Kristine (Lindahl) Cloyes C’73, Wesley Lindahl A’72 C’76, Paul Lindahl C’79, and Renee (Lindahl) Catrambone C’88. Their family has grown to include 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Elder served in the Army in Germany and Austria during World War II in the 135th Combat Engineer Battalion and the 485th Engineer Heavy Shop Company. He wrote about his experiences as an 18-year-old in his book, Private Lindahl, Citizen Soldier (2001). Elder was honorably discharged on August 5, 1946, with the rank of technical sergeant. Following the war and during his time as a student at the Seminary, he was given an internship as founding pastor of the Bretton Woods Covenant Church in Lansing, Mich. Starting in 1952 and for the remainder of his career, Elder was a professor at North Park University in the philosophy and religious studies department, influencing the lives of thousands of students over his 38 years of teaching. He retired in 1990. A few years later he and Muriel moved to Covenant Village of Golden Valley. At the Village Elder led the Swedish Club, Computer Club, and Lucia Festival Event. He wrote extensively for the Pietisten and enjoyed fly fishing. A memorial service was held at Covenant Village of Golden Valley on November 26, 2014. A burial service will take place on July 31 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Beechwood, Mich. (21)

NORTH PARKER | Summer 2015 35

ALUMNI IN MEMORIAM NOTES

John Alan Hackenson of Houston passed away on January 18, 2015, after a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He attended North Park Theological Seminary from September 1968 to December 1969 and served on the church staff of North Park Evangelical Covenant Church in Chicago for several years, and assisted with confirmation at Foundry United Methodist Church in Houston. Alan was a Boy Scout leader in both Chicago and Houston for more than 20 years. He worked for more than 25 years as a manager in the technology area at Walgreen Co. before his retirement. A quiet, gentle man, Alan loved the Lord and served him in many capacities. He is survived by his wife, Becky; son, David; stepson, Jeff; and extended family.

Dwain Edward Dedrick of Boulder, Colo., passed away on November 4, 2014. Born in Falls City, Neb., on March 12, 1923, Dwain was raised in Iowa and South Dakota. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. As a returning G.I. Dwain attended the University of South Dakota where he graduated with a degree in Spanish. He married Edith Eleanore Sloan in 1950 and first taught at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where his son Scott was born in 1951. In 1956 the family moved to Northbrook, Ill., where Dwain taught at Glenbrook North High School. He left the following year to pursue a PhD degree in Spanish from Northwestern University and then joined North Park College in Chicago where he became the chairman of the Division of Language and Literature and spent the remaining 27 years of his career. Dwain was an avid traveler, having made numerous trips to Spain, Mexico, South America, and Western Europe. He enjoyed the arts, especially music and theater, and became an accomplished poet, writing many clever poems dealing with the aging process that have given great enjoyment to all who read them. Dwain had a wonderful connection with many people, including students who kept in touch with him for many years. He is survived by his son, Scott Dedrick (Judy), and granddaughter, Corrie. A private family service and burial were held at Green Mountain Cemetery, and a celebration of Dwain’s life was held in Boulder. (23)

Douglas Mark C’65 of Chicago passed away on January 1, 2015, in Vista, Calif., surrounded by family after battling ALS. Born in China on March 23, 1942, to the late Robert and Mary Mark, he is survived by wife, Anita; son, Jonathan of Boston, and daughters Melissa Stenson (Robert) of Melbourne, Fla., and Christine Censon (Lemuel) of Vista, Calif.. After graduating from North Park College, and serving honorably in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Captain, Douglas worked as a merchandise analyst for Montgomery Ward and later in real estate. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, he will be greatly missed by all. His funeral was held at El Camino Memorial Sorrento Valley with a military burial at Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, on January 20, 2015. (22)

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Your Gift. Our Students. Scholarship support is our highest priority! Today, more than ever, scholarships remove the barriers to quality education and open the way for students to enroll, pursue their goals, complete their studies, and graduate with pride from North Park University or from North Park Theological Seminary.

Your Gift to the North Park Fund

• Strengthens undergraduate scholarships: We award more than $12 million annually in scholarships and financial aid to 89 percent of undergraduate students. • Advances Seminary scholarships: We can provide nearly $1 million annually in financial aid and scholarships to assist 74 percent of Seminary students.

Make a difference. Make your gift today. Visit www.northpark.edu/give

y hope is to become a dedicated and “ Mpassionate special education teacher. Thank you for making my dreams come true! Without your support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

”

Lizbeth Marin C’16 BS, Elementary Education

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID KELMSCOTT

==glory++!

Save the Date

HOMECOMING 2015

October 16–18, 2015 www.northpark.edu/homecoming

Sunday, December 7, 2014, at 4:00 pm