North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
糖心vlog官方入口 (North Park) has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by Colleges of Distinction, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary as a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students.
Chicago, Illinois鈥擩une 12, 2020
(North Park) has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by , which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary as a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students. Colleges of Distinction boasts its longstanding support for student-centered schools that traditional rankings often overlook. As an institution whose primary goals are based on student success and satisfaction, North Park confirms its honor as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction.
Founder Wes Creel traces Colleges of Distinction鈥檚 beginnings back to when he was helping his eldest daughter search for schools. The institutions that dominated the rankings were drowning out all the others, and not speaking to what the student experience would be like. He then created Colleges of Distinction to draw more attention to schools like North Park whose student-centered education prevails in applying theory to practice while fostering a dynamic learning community.
While higher education has changed over the last 20 years, Colleges of Distinction鈥檚 selection process has stayed consistent鈥攃onducting in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools themselves about each institution鈥檚 freshman experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more鈥攁nd accepting only those that adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. Overlaid in the last few years have been a look into High-Impact Practices. This model prioritizes the opportunities institutions have for students that make for a fulfilling, individualized college experience.
鈥淓ach school is different, just as every student is different,鈥� said Creel. 鈥淭here is no number-one college for everyone, so we never rank those in our cohort.鈥� North Park鈥檚 inclusion is informed by the unique ways it commits to achieving success.
Creel and his colleagues found that the most pervasive ranking systems rely on metrics like peer reputation, size of endowment, and alumni salaries. They knew instead that most critical to the student experience were the kinds of engaging experiences that are found at North Park鈥檚 experiential-based learning programs (Catalyst 606), service-learning programs, diversity and global learning programs, living-learning communities (CRUX), study abroad programs, and internships.
Creel continued, 鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see North Park commit to the learning styles and community involvement that will best allow their students to thrive.鈥�
糖心vlog官方入口 Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools throughout the U.S. for true excellence in higher education. The member schools within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit .
Kelly (Sladkey) Vetter, North Park School of Education C鈥�11 (BEEd, Magna Cum Laude) talks about her day as a Chicago Public School (CPS) teacher in a Channel NBC 5 series, Coronavirus in Illinois: A Day in the Life During the Pandemic.
Kelly (Sladkey) Vetter C鈥�11 talks about her day as a Chicago Public School (CPS) teacher in a Channel NBC 5 series, .
A third-generation Viking and former member of the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Committee, Vetter currently teaches science and social studies to seventh- and eighth-graders. As a special education teacher with CPS, Vetter is passionate about co-teaching in an inclusion setting.
Sitting at her kitchen table while her one-year-old son naps, Vetter manages her dual role as stay-at-home mom engaging her three-year-old son in a 15-minute activity alongside developing remote learning plans to add to students鈥� Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Later in the day, Vetter perches her laptop on a box containing toddler supplies while reviewing vocabulary words with a student.
To see Vetter鈥檚 first-hand experience balancing stay-at-home parenting with distance teaching, watch the Channel NBC 5 feature video .
Sommar (Johnson) Otfinoski, North Park School of Nursing C鈥�13 (BSN) and G鈥�20 (MSN), talks about her day as an ICU nurse caring for COVID-19 patients in an NBC 5 Chicago series, Coronavirus in Illinois: A Day in the Life During the Pandemic.
Sommar (Johnson) Otfinoski C鈥�13 G鈥�20 talks about her day as an ICU nurse caring for COVID-19 patients in an NBC 5 Chicago series, Coronavirus in Illinois: A Day in the Life During the Pandemic.
A third-generation Viking, Otfinoski听currently works at Swedish Hospital. Alongside other Day in the Life stories, including a North Park alum CPS teacher, social worker, and truck driver, Otfinoski tours Swedish Hospital鈥檚 medical supply storage closet, hallways, and patient room. Humbly describing the intensity of the long shifts caring for COVID-19 patients, the overflow of patients, and seriousness of the virus, Otfinoski听embodies North Park鈥檚 School of Nursing distinctives 鈥� collaborative, skillful, passionate, ethical, and knowledgeable.
To see Otfinoski’s first-hand experience on the floor of Swedish Hospital as an ICU nurse, watch the NBC 5 Chicago feature video “.”
Every state, every school鈥攆rom A to Z鈥攃elebrated high school and college 2020 graduates on Facebook Live and Instagram Live. When it was Illinois turn, 糖心vlog官方入口 was joined by Northeastern Illinois University in celebrating its 2020 graduates.
Every state, every school鈥攆rom A to Z鈥攃elebrated high school and college 2020 graduates on Facebook Live and Instagram Live. A commencement address by Oprah Winfrey was joined by other celebrities including Usher, Matthew McConaughey, and Jennifer Garner. When it was Illinois turn, 糖心vlog官方入口 was joined by Northeastern Illinois University in celebrating its 2020 graduates. Also featured for Illinois was Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson and the Special Olympics. Jackson expressed that the 2020 graduates represent a unified generation.
The live event, focusing on being all about the students, reiterated the strength and resilience of the 2020 graduating class. 鈥淵ou made it. You graduated. Don鈥檛 take that lightly. Do it with conviction and do it with integrity,鈥� said Usher.
In a video featuring North Park’s School of Education, Dr. Rebecca Nelson congratulated the graduates from the School of Education and the entire North Park class of 2020, offering her best wishes.
An interview with healthcare alum Lauren Lewandowski and more graduation celebration!
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected! If you have anything to share with the North Park community, please reach out and email us at听UMC@northpark.edu. We鈥檇 love to hear from you and share how all of us are doing while we are apart.
Employee Thank You 鈥� Sharee Myricks
Keep calm and Viking on . . . like Sharee Myricks, North Park鈥檚 Director of Diversity and Intercultural Life. Sharee has been working from home on everything from helping students adjust to their new normal, to working on North Park鈥檚 accreditation process as a member of the Higher Learning Commission committee. Thanks, Sharee!
NPU Social
Today Facebook will be hosting a 2020 Graduation event, and our own Dean of the School of Education Rebecca Nelson was invited to send in a video! #Graduation2020: Facebook and听听Celebrate the Class of 2020鈥� will kick off Friday, May 15, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The multi-hour live broadcast will stream on Facebook Watch (available at听).
Thank you to our Health Care Workers:
Interview with Alum Lauren Lewandowski
Lauren Lewandowski School of Nursing 2019 Alumna
Where are you working as a nurse?
I am currently working at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I work on the Cardiovascular and Thoracic stepdown unit, so we see any post-operative patients in these services.
How did your education at North Park prepare you for working as a nurse in crisis situations such as COVID-19?
North Park prepared me for working as a nurse in this particular crisis situation by instilling the values of holistic-centered care. One professor in particular, Heather Duncan, always reiterated to us that “every patient is a child of god and deserves to be treated with care and respect”. Keeping in mind that there is a person behind the virus and disease processes encourages me to give the best care possible. North Park prepared us with the critical thinking skills through lab and various rotations to recognize pertinent symptoms of de-compensation听and how to听appropriately听react and escalate the situation.听
How did you get the job working as a nurse (i.e. through North Park career services)?
I got my Job at Northwestern through an internship secured via the North Park Nursing program. Northwestern has a program called the “Clinical Role Transition” where you learn on the job skills that ultimately prepare you for that position.听
Did you have an internship while a student at North Park and if so, where?
I had several nursing clinical rotations throughout my time at North Park. These included Northwestern, Shirley Ryan, and Swedish Covenant hospitals.听
What inspires you about working as a nurse (i.e. doing social good)?
Seeing the turnaround a patient is able to take after having spent a significant amount of time in the hospital constantly inspires me as a nurse. Whether that be seeing someone pre-operatively and through their course of heart transplant, or a patient who is fighting the COVID-19 virus, it is encouraging to see the patients come full circle. Some patients in particular we are able to form bonds with during extended stays, and knowing that you were able to bring a smile to their face, even for just a small moment, lets you know the hard days are worth it.
What was your journey towards deciding to study nursing at North Park?
I knew I wanted to be a nurse after seeing a family friend who was a nurse react and help save a child during a crisis situation. She reacted with firm knowledge and composure, and I knew I wanted to exemplify that in my career down the line. North Park in particular was a school that emphasizes working closely with peers and professors, which was very important for me. In the clinical setting, it is all about teamwork. Being prepared for this field in a like-minded environment gave me assurance that I would have the best foundation to begin my career.
What experiences at North Park prepared you for a career in nursing?
North Park partners with exceptional hospitals and facilities through clinical rotations, which offered lots of hands on experience. I had my first clinical rotation on the floor that I am currently working on. Through professors and clinical instructors, connections are able to be made for future jobs. By offering a wide range of simulation activities and floor experience, North Park allowed me to feel comfortable to enter the field as a new grad.
What year did you graduate and what specific degree did you earn?
I graduated in 2019 and my degree is a BSN.听
What excites you about the field in which you鈥檙e working?
Healthcare is constantly evolving, and there are ample opportunities to continue education. 听I am excited by new technologies or studies that point to more effective practices in patient care.
Why did you choose North Park?
I wanted to be in a city environment with small class sizes, where the professors were hands-on.听I had many family friends who were nurses who talked about the reputation of North Park nurses in their hospitals.
What North Park values stand out to you (Christian, city-centered, intercultural)?
North Park being city-centered and intercultural stood out most to me. Having met people from all around the world during my time at North Park, I learned to appreciate cultures different from my own and how to apply that in the clinical setting.
Commencement
A huge thank you to everyone involved in the virtual commencement this past Saturday 鈥� students, families, staff, and faculty 鈥� we could not have finished this year so strong without you! If you missed it, here is our virtual commencement video.
Inspiring Music for Uncertain Times
Annie Picard has been at NPU since 1998, teaching our undergraduate and Master of Music students voice lessons and classes. To encourage us now, she has selected music about connection: connection to our earth, emotions, beautiful sounds, joie de vivre, amazing musicians, words, nature, freedom, and peace.
“Another fav of mine when those household chores beckon and need some inspiration!”
“The consistency and warmth of his tone are just incredible.听 Love. Love. Love.听听I miss him!”
Scripture of the Week
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.鈥澨�
Celebrating our graduates and this year’s multicultural awards.
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected! If you have anything to share with the North Park community, please reach out and email us at听UMC@northpark.edu. We鈥檇 love to hear from you and share how all of us are doing while we are apart.
Employee Thank You 鈥� Jeff Lundblad
Keep calm and Viking on 鈥� Like Jeff Lundblad, North Park鈥檚 Director of Information Technology. Thanks to Jeff and his team for supporting the technology needs of staff, faculty, and students while working remotely from home.
Virtual Commencement
Class of 2020! This Saturday, we will celebrate your accomplishments in a virtual Commencement that will include graduates of the Undergraduate, Graduate, School of Professional Studies, and Seminary programs. Our Virtual Commencement Ceremony will be hosted online at 10 am CDT this Saturday, May 9, 2020.听The video will stream on both and .听While we wish we could all be together in person, we hope you can join us online.
Social Media Toolkit
Show your support for the Class of 2020 on social media! Use one of our frames, stickers, or story templates: /class-of-2020-social-media-toolkit/
Inspiring Music for Uncertain Times
Annie Picard has been at NPU since 1998, teaching our undergraduate and Master of Music students voice lessons and classes. To encourage us now, she has selected music about connection: connection to our earth, emotions, beautiful sounds, joie de vivre, amazing musicians, words, nature, freedom, and peace.
“A beautiful, mature recording of this amazing cycle.听听An old friend I never get tired of!”
“It鈥檚 effortless and expressive.听听She鈥檚 so special!”
Annual Multicultural Celebration
Congratulations to all of our award winners this year! Read more about the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life鈥檚 Annual Multicultural Celebration here.
Scripture of the Week
鈥淗umble yourselves, then, under God鈥檚 mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.鈥澨�
Dr. Max Lee, North Park鈥檚 Associate Professor of the New Testament, has been selected by the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding to receive the 2020-2021 Henry Resident Fellowship.
Dr. Max Lee, North Park鈥檚 Associate Professor of the New Testament, has been selected by the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding to receive the 2020-2021 Henry Resident Fellowship.
Oriented towards the welfare of the church, the Fellowship supports and encourages the connection between evangelical scholarship and modern science to address questions related to the goodness of creation. As a part of the scholar-in-residence program, Dr. Lee will develop his research project in a collaborative environment on Trinity Evangelical Divinity School鈥檚 Deerfield campus during the 2020-2021 academic year.
In his research project, Natural Desire as a Moral Index of What is Good, Dr. Lee will explore the theory and theology of pleasure and how to enjoy the gifts of God while avoiding idolatrous practices. Uniting natural order with moral order, his project begins with a biblical-theological framework on the purposes of pleasure while also examining how pleasure operates in an interdisciplinary dialogue with the health sciences. It engages Scripture, theology, medical studies on trauma, the psychology of addiction, and the neuroscience of mimesis.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Lee says, 鈥淢any thanks also to North Park Theological Seminary and who have made provisions for my sabbatical year and for their communal support.鈥�
We’re all getting creative with ways to stay connected during this time: a Seminary dance party on TikTok, a virtual marathon, and as always, working together to serve our students and the North Park community.
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected! If you have anything to share with the North Park community, please reach out and email us at听UMC@northpark.edu. We鈥檇 love to hear from you and share how all of us are doing while we are apart.
Employee Thank You 鈥� Katie Maier-O鈥橲hea
Keep calm and Viking on 鈥� like Katie Maier-O鈥橲hea, North Park鈥檚 Dean of Library and Academic Technology. Katie has been pivotal in easing our students鈥� transition from classroom to remote online learning since the very beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
NPU Social
Check out the Seminary students, staff, and faculty in their TikTok challenge!
Health & Wellness
Starting Today! 鈥� Join the first-ever 糖心vlog官方入口 Virtual Race from May 1鈥揗ay 31! The goal is 52.4 miles (a double marathon) for the month. You can walk, run, bike, skate, etc. to roll through quarantine. All workouts will be logged in the . Endomondo is a free fitness app that you can use to track workouts, set goals, take part in challenges, and keep up with friends鈥� fitness activities. Contact Director of Wellness Ericka Adams with any questions.
And be sure to check out the new Virtual Group Fitness links for May!
Don’t miss out. Join our group fitness classes on zoom every day. We are here to keep you motivated and to help you continue to reach your fitness goals!
Cardio Intervals Weekdays, Monday鈥揊riday, 4 pm
Zumba Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am
Zoom Meeting ID: 209 239 6229
Zoom Meeting Password: 694734
Cardio Intervals Saturday and Sunday, 9 am
Inspiring Music for Uncertain Times
Annie Picard has been at NPU since 1998, teaching our undergraduate and Master of Music students voice lessons and classes. To encourage us now, she has selected music about connection: connection to our earth, emotions, beautiful sounds, joie de vivre, amazing musicians, words, nature, freedom, and peace.
“My favorite composer, opera, and singers. Need I say more?”
“Everything about this recording is sublime.听听Bach + Ich habe genug + LHL = LOVE!”
Registration Day
Virtual Registration Day is a success!
A special thank you to all the University departments who made our virtual registration day such a success!! Student Engagement, IT, and UMC all came together and, despite the logistical challenges, hosted a successful registration day event that drew participation from 70 incoming freshman choosing courses for the fall semester.
鈥淚t was a really collaborative effort, and it was very impressive that we were able to organize such a large event in such a short time frame,鈥� said Joe Miller, Director of Enrollment Systems and Operations.
The event was yet another example of how University departments are working together in unprecedented ways to maintain North Park鈥檚 high standards during the Covid-19 pandemic. Keep up the great work!
Scripture of the Week
鈥淭ell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don鈥檛 be afraid! God is coming to your rescue鈥︹��
Taking the event on-line this year, the event was broadcasted on Facebook Live鈥攚here the Multicultural Student Leader recognition, Champion of Diversity Award, and Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life Director鈥檚 Award were presented.
North Park鈥檚 Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life honored student leaders, faculty, and staff for their diversity efforts of significance and service in its Annual Multicultural Celebration. Taking the event on-line this year, the event was broadcasted on Facebook Live鈥攚here the Multicultural Student Leader recognition, Champion of Diversity Award, and Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life Director鈥檚 Award were presented.
Multicultural Student Leader Recognition
The Multicultural Student Leader recognition honors graduating seniors who are currently or previously executive members of North Park鈥檚 cultural clubs; student workers with at least one and a half years of service in the Collaboratory or the Office of Diversity; or prior Diversity Representatives in the Student Government Association.
Award recipients included:
Sheyla Castellanos
Mara Franzen
Ashorina Houma
Elena Lawando
Hannah Lewis
Elsie McConaughey
Shalini Mody
Kosi Okeke
Esther Upturi
Sheyla Castellanos
Mara Franzen
Ashorina Houma
Elena Lawando
Hannah Lewis
Elsie McConaughey
Shalini Mody
Kosi Okeke
Esther Upturi
Champion of Diversity Award
Highlighting North Park鈥檚 faculty, staff, and administration, the Champion of Diversity Award is presented to those who have conducted exceptional work in the areas of interculturalism, restorative justice, or racial reconciliation. Richard Kohng and Dr. Gwendolyn 鈥淒r. P鈥� Purifoye received the Champion of Diversity Award, for their contributions and leadership.
Rich Kohng, Director of Civic Engagement, Catalyst Hub
Gwendolyn Purifoye, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life Director Award
The Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life Director Award recognizes a person or group鈥檚 involvement in fostering an inclusive and intercultural campus culture.
This year, the award went to North Park鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Basketball Team, honoring:
Shout outs to our staff working from home and our healthcare workers on the front line of the crisis, plus opportunities to stand together and stay connected.
In these times of physical separation, we as the North Park community still want to stay emotionally and socially connected! If you have anything to share with the North Park community, please reach out and email us at听UMC@northpark.edu. We鈥檇 love to hear from you and share how all of us are doing while we are apart.
Employee Thank You 鈥� Andrea Nevels
Keep calm and Viking on . . . like Vice President of Student Engagement Andrea Nevels, who continues to support our students as she works from home. Thank you, Vice President Nevels!
Standing Together Against Racism
The 糖心vlog官方入口 social psychology classes invite you to join virtually the national, annual campaign to Stand Against Racism.听 While we cannot stand together in person this year, we encourage you to take the pledge against racism, write your member of congress or senator, and support a full, accurate census in 2020.
Mindful of the continuing affliction of institutional and structural racism as well as the daily realities of all forms of bias, prejudice and bigotry in my own life, my family, my circle of friends, my co-workers and the society in which I live, with conviction and hope:
I take this pledge, fully aware that the struggle to eliminate racism will not end with a mere pledge but calls for an ongoing transformation within myself and the institutions and structures of our society.
I pledge to look deeply and continuously in my heart and in my mind to identify all signs and vestiges of racism; to rebuke the use of racist language and behavior towards others; to root out such racism in my daily life and in my encounters with persons I know and with strangers I do not know; and to expand my consciousness to be more aware and sensitive to my use of overt and subtle expressions of racism and racial stereotypes;
I pledge to educate myself on racial justice issues and share what I learn in my own communities even if it means challenging my family, my partner, my children, my friends, my co-workers and those I encounter on a daily basis
I pledge, within my means, to actively work to support public policy solutions that prominently, openly and enthusiastically promote racial equity in all aspects of human affairs; and to actively support and devote my time working to eradicate racism from our society.
I join the 糖心vlog官方入口, PSYC 3500 Social Psychology classes in taking a stand against racism today and every day.
Thank You to Our Health Care Workers
Heather Duncan, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Nursing professor Heather Duncan has put her own safety on the line to take care of vulnerable Chicagoans suffering from COVID-19. Read about her calling here.
Inspiring Music for Uncertain Times
Annie Picard has been at NPU since 1998, teaching our undergraduate and Master of Music students voice lessons and classes. To encourage us now, she has selected music about connection: connection to our earth, emotions, beautiful sounds, joie de vivre, amazing musicians, words, nature, freedom, and peace.
“I鈥檓 a Pavarotti junky because it鈥檚 so obvious how much he loves to sing! He radiates joy. The voice is glorious, also!”
“Need help with those pesky household chores? Put this on!”
Health & Wellness
Join the first-ever 糖心vlog官方入口 Virtual Race from May 1鈥揗ay 31! The goal is 52.4 miles (a double marathon) for the month. You can walk, run, bike, skate, etc. to roll through quarantine. All workouts will be logged in the . Endomondo is a free fitness app that you can use to track workouts, set goals, take part in challenges, and keep up with friends鈥� fitness activities. Contact Director of Wellness Ericka Adams with any questions.
NPU Social: Blue & Gold Day
Thank you to all who supported North Park鈥檚 Blue & Gold Day! We appreciate you!
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on
To Lift Our Spirits
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, people are doing kind things for others, even for complete strangers. If you have been helped, or you have witnessed others going out of their way to help, let us know! Send your short stories to UMC@northpark.edu, and put Good News in the subject field. We鈥檒l share them here.
NPU alum Maggie Pagan is uniting her block in Chicago.
Scripture of the Week
鈥淲hen anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.鈥�
(North Park) has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by , which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary as a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students. Colleges of Distinction boasts its longstanding support for student-centered schools that traditional rankings often overlook. As an institution whose primary goals are based on student success and satisfaction, North Park confirms its honor as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction.
Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories News, Stories
Lauren Lewandowski
Show your support for the Class of 2020 on social media! Use one of our frames, stickers, or story templates: 
Oriented towards the welfare of the church, the Fellowship supports and encourages the connection between evangelical scholarship and modern science to address questions related to the goodness of creation. As a part of the scholar-in-residence program, Dr. Lee will develop his research project in a collaborative environment on Trinity Evangelical Divinity School鈥檚 Deerfield campus during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Keep calm and Viking on . . . like Vice President of Student Engagement Andrea Nevels, who continues to support our students as she works from home. Thank you, Vice President Nevels!
