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糖心vlog官方入口 Welcomes Special Visitors to Nursing Simulation Lab Facility
Dr. Linda Duncan, right, dean of the School of Nursing, explains how students and faculty are using the Nursing Simulation Lab Facility.
Conference attendees visit high-tech teaching facility, now in its second year
CHICAGO (October 12, 2012) — 糖心vlog官方入口's has added value to the University's nursing program for both students and faculty, said , professor and dean of the . Duncan told a group of visitors attending a national conference in Chicago that overall student skill development and teamwork skills have improved in the year since the facility opened.
糖心vlog官方入口 a dozen visitors came to the University October 4 from the in Chicago to tour the state-of-the-art simulation lab. Opened in September 2011, the lab enables students in nursing and other disciplines to practice critical skills in a simulated, safe learning environment. Simulations are recorded, and students and faculty review their work.
Faculty have used the simulation lab to teach critical thinking. It provides added opportunities to teach the importance of inter-professional discussion, conflict resolution skills, and communication in health care settings, Duncan told the visitors. Errors can occur in healthcare settings, often because of poor communication. The simulation lab has given the University's nursing education program a way to address this topic, she said.
"Student satisfaction is very high about these experiences in the simulation lab," Duncan said. "They feel it has further enabled them to go to clinical sites feeling prepared." Something new this year is that the faculty has moved simulated, patient experience into first semester courses for nursing students, she said. In addition, the faculty is integrating simulation throughout the nursing curriculum, Duncan said. For the nursing program, the lab has been "a real blessing," Duncan added.
The 3,000-square-foot 糖心vlog官方入口 Nursing Simulation Lab Facility was designed by , Chicago, a first for the firm. It is using knowledge gained from the project to design similar facilities in other parts of the country, said , principal.
"It's always surprising to people how good this facility is when they walk in it," Ketcham said.
The $2 million simulation lab includes four simulation rooms, two control rooms, and a conference room where students and faculty debrief their class experiences, using video and audio recordings. The facility is located on the north side of the along Foster Avenue.
In addition to visiting the simulation lab, conference attendees visited two other new Chicago health care facilities — the and the Tower at . The Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo drew about 2,700 registrants and more than 200 exhibitors. The conference is a forum for sharing ideas and best practices in health care delivery improvement and how physical space directly affects staff, patients and their families. Attendees are architects, engineers, facility managers, health care administrators, interior designers, and construction professionals.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Find out more about the School of Nursing's and programs, as well as its programs.
糖心vlog官方入口 Student, Art Professor Selected for 2012 Fulbright Awards
Karen Kelly
Kelly to teach English in Andorra; Okore to teach 'environmental art' in Nigeria
CHICAGO (May 1, 2012) – awarded overseas teaching opportunities to two women from the 糖心vlog官方入口 community this spring. Senior Karen Kelly was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship to teach in a secondary school in , a small European country between France and Spain. , associate professor and art department chair, was named a , and will teach and work closely on environmental art projects with artists, galleries, and art organizations in her home country of Nigeria.
Kelly will graduate this month from the University with a double major in global studies and French, and will leave for Andorra later this summer. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and has taken Arabic courses at the University. Most Andorrans speak French or Spanish. Many also speak the country's official language, Catalan. The mix of languages and cultures piqued Kelly's interest in serving Andorra. "That's what stood out to me because on the description for candidates, it said they will give preference to candidates who speak Spanish or French. That will fit well," Kelly said.
The daughter of (ECC) missionaries, Kelly was born and raised in Mexico City, and is a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States. She learned about the Fulbright program before she went to 糖心vlog官方入口 after her parents, Rev. Thomas and Janice Kelly, met former Fulbright Scholar , professor of Spanish. That relationship later led to Kelly's decision to apply.
Growing up in a missionary family and attending an international school with students from throughout the world influenced Kelly's global interests. "Being around people who were different from me and speak different languages than me was just normal. I loved it. I had friends from all over the world," she said. Kelly has never been to Andorra, but did study in France during her junior year at the University. Andorra is known for tourism, shopping, and skiing. Its population is nearly 100 percent literate, she said.
Kelly's essay, in which she discussed Andorra as a country "tucked" between French and Spanish cultures, impressed Parkyn. "Her essay followed this metaphor as she described her own life, growing up 'tucked' between the cultures of Mexico and the United States. Karen will be an ambassador for an increasingly mobile group of young Americans who carry with them various 'tucked between cultures' experiences," Parkyn said.
Kelly is looking forward to her role as U.S. representative during her Fulbright year. "I see it as an opportunity to build bridges and break down barriers. I like the unknown, too, to see what's going to come of it," she said.
Nnenna Okore
Art Professor Nnenna Okore to teach environmental art in home country
Nnenna Okore will travel to in August, and plans to use her Fulbright Scholarship to teach artists how to use discarded materials to create works of art, and raise attention for environmental restoration in Nigeria.
"It's always been my dream to go back and teach in one of their universities, and share what I've learned here with faculty and students," Okore said in an interview. Okore is a sculptor, whose niche is in environmental art. She uses materials such as newspapers, wax, cloth, rope, clay, and sticks in her art. "It's something I've been very interested in for a long time," she said.
There isn't an effective way of recycling in Nigeria, and many artists have tried including recycled materials in their work. But generally, the culture does not accept such works as genuine art because recycled materials are used, Okore explained. "Part of my aim is to begin to bring some authenticity to the use of our environment, and the use of things that are byproducts of that environment, whether social, physical, or consumer environment. We should be thinking of ways to recycle things back into our art and into our daily lives," she said.
With her Fulbright grant, Okore, who planned sabbatical leave for the coming academic year, will open a studio in Lagos. She plans to collaborate with local students and artists in creating art from recycled materials, raise attention for recycling and environmental restoration, and discuss future art collaborations involving Nigerian institutions and the University. She will also design and teach a course in environmental art at the . Okore will debut the works she creates at the , Lagos, beginning in May 2013. Later, she plans also to display the works at the University's , and in other venues.
Okore, of Morton Grove, Ill., began teaching at the University in 2005. She has been recognized with several national and international awards. Okore's family will go with her to Nigeria for the academic year, and she plans to stay in touch with 糖心vlog官方入口 art students via Skype and other online venues.
Parkyn, who also helped Okore prepare her Fulbright application, said her own Fulbright Scholar experiences "force her to see the world in uncommon ways." "One day eager student faces look to you for guidance in the classroom; the next day they debate American involvement in their lives with skepticism; in the same conversation they invite you for coffee to ask you questions about your beliefs. It is a whirlwind of learning for all involved. Professor Okore's art will inspire, attract, repel, and incite. This is every professor’s dream, and to share North Park’s wonderful artist with these Nigerian students is almost magical," Parkyn said.
The Fulbright Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1946, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
糖心vlog官方入口 Names Director for Center for Youth Ministry Studies
Dr. Daniel White Hodge, the new director of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies.
Daniel White Hodge is noted scholar, speaker, teacher and writer
CHICAGO (January 27, 2012) – 糖心vlog官方入口 named Dr. Daniel White Hodge director of the University's . Hodge, 38, will assume his new role at the University on Feb. 15.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Hodge to the 糖心vlog官方入口 community," , University provost. "His work and commitment to serve in the field of youth ministry studies will be a great asset in our vision to engage students, youth workers and pastors in the growth and development of youth throughout this country."
Hodge brings 18 years of urban youth experience with organizations such as Young Life and , as well as related scholarship, speaking, teaching and writing experience to his new role. "I believe this is a natural fit with the work I've been doing," he said in an interview. "I've always heard great things about 糖心vlog官方入口. I'm excited because it really fulfills what I've been doing most of my life. I'm looking forward to making this a national center for resources and for people wanting to do youth ministry."
A factor in his decision to join the University was its emphasis on diversity and justice, and the fact that those themes resonate throughout the 糖心vlog官方入口 community, he said. The University's Christian environment and its urban emphasis because of its location in Chicago were other influential factors, Hodge said.
Hodge, who will also have teaching responsibilities at the University, hopes his work will enhance what students already care about, he said. "A lot of students are taking up social justice, and I'm excited to engage in those conversations," Hodge said. "Students are willing to wrestle with how to put a theology around how we live godly and justly at the same time."
Hodge is a native of Menard, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree in social and behavioral science from California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, plus a master's degree in intercultural studies, and a doctoral degree in philosophy of intercultural studies, both from Fuller Graduate Schools, Pasadena, Calif. He has taught subjects such as urban youth culture, Black popular culture, Hip/Hop discourse, race, ethnicity, religion, and sociology at several colleges and universities including the University of California at Los Angeles; California State University Northridge; Vanguard University of Southern California, Costa Mesa; Asuza (Calif.) Pacific University; and Fuller Graduate Schools. Hodge has lectured at other higher education institutions, such as Stanford (Calif.) University, the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and Union Theological Seminary, New York.
Hodge is fluent in English and Spanish, and is an ordained pastor of the . He has written two books, Heaven Has a Ghetto: The Missiological Gospel & Theology of Tupac Amaru Shakur, published in 2009, and The Soul of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs & a Cultural Theology, published in 2010. His third book, The Hostile Gospel: Finding Religion in the Post Soul Theology of Hip Hop is expected to be published this year. Hodge has also published articles in journals and written book chapters.
Hodge has worked in the music industry. In 1997, he produced a compilation album of West Coast Hip Hop recording artists. He was a recording engineer for artists such as Snoop Dogg and in the early 1990s, wrote musical scores for the first season of "New York Undercover" on Fox Television.
Hodge, his wife, Emily, and their five-year-old daughter, Mahalia Joy, currently live in Minneapolis.
The Center for Youth Ministry Studies serves Christian leaders dedicated to holistic ministry with adolescents. It provides resources and training through workshops, webinars and other resources; consulting services; and networking and connections through partnerships throughout the United States. The center is a partnership of the University, , and the (ECC), Chicago. The University and Seminary are both affiliated with the ECC.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Check out two upcoming CYMS events: and
Learn more about the currently available through the center.
University Student Conference Teaches Diversity, Community, Leadership
Pastor Corey Brooks Sr., inspired the conference attendees with his story of faith and leadership.
Chicago pastor inspires attendees, said he seeks 'to please God'
CHICAGO (November 8, 2012) — As many as 400 糖心vlog官方入口 students – plus nearly 300 from other colleges and universities in the Midwest and other parts of the United States – participated November 2 in the University's fourth annual . The students attended to learn about diversity, community, and leadership, and how to apply what they learn at their own institutions.
This year's keynote speaker was of , a large, growing nondenominational congregation on the south side of Chicago. Student attendees said they were inspired by his comments about personal integrity and becoming leaders.
Brooks' presentation "really stood out to me," especially his remarks about casting a vision, believing in it, and pursuing it, said Jamir Prattis, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus. Clarissa Harris, also from Ohio Dominican, said, "I came to this conference to learn more about becoming a better and effective leader, and to have a more diverse organization," she said. Harris is president of her university's Black Student Union.
Lynda Yang-Jungsing, a student from Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn., has attended the conference the past two years. "It's something that I feel helps me be more culturally competent, and helps me with leadership," she said. With her was Bethel student Jessica Yang, who was able to connect her major with what she learned. "I'm a nursing major, and we're learning how some ethnicities don't have access to health care, or don't have health insurance, or, when they are injured or hurt, they are less likely to go to the doctor. Being here and talking about the communities here — it is interesting to see how that is applied," she said.
"This conference provides an opportunity for students to learn about issues of diversity at a deeper level," said Dr. Terry Lindsay, conference chair and 糖心vlog官方入口's dean of . "Many of the students that come don't have the resources on their campuses to do the kinds of things that we do here at this conference."
Brooks told the students he made a personal decision a few years ago "to please God" as a positive response to urban violence. Brooks said he was called to live in a tent on the roof of an abandoned, dilapidated hotel across the street from New Beginnings – to raise funds to buy the building and demolish it for a new neighborhood community center. His commitment raised enough money to fulfill his goal during his 94-day stay. In another response, Brooks said he was called to walk across the United States over a period of four months, and reached the West Coast last month. That effort raised another $500,000 for the community center project.
Brooks encouraged the students to be leaders in their own contexts, suggesting three principles for leadership. Money, he said, should not be a motivating factor in becoming a leader. "You will be called to do things, and you won't know where the money is coming from," he told the students. "Your motivation should be that at the end of the day, you want to hear God say, 'well done, good and faithful servant.'"
A second quality is that good leaders obey God even when they don't understand why they are being called. "One of the qualities missing in leaders today is faith. Faith is one of the things that pleases God. When you obey God, God will bring you things you can't imagine," he said. Third, leaders have to be able to thank God before receiving anything, he said. "Faith is about saying thank you before you receive," Brooks added.
The students attended several conference workshops on topics such as intercultural competencies, building multicultural organizations, leadership development, principles of inclusion, and mentoring. Cultural and musical performers were Bethel University's Royal Steppers, the Children's Choir, Chicago, and , Chicago. A reception for concluded the conference.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
糖心vlog官方入口 Student Earns Fulbright Award, Heads to Colombia
Michelle Wells, Monroe, Wash., is the University's eighth Fulbright award recipient in the past four years.
Michelle Wells joins two other 2012-2013 University Fulbright recipients
Chicago (July 18, 2012) — Michelle Wells and her sister, Laurel, were on a two-month visit to Europe earlier this summer when Michelle got an email message early one morning while in Spain: The had granted her application to go to to be an English Teaching Assistant for one year. Wells joins who were awarded Fulbright scholarships this year. The University has now had eight Fulbright scholarship recipients in the past four years.
Wells, of Monroe, Wash., learned during the spring semester that she had been designated a Fulbright scholarship alternate. That meant she would be granted the award only if someone else was unable to go. "It was very unexpected," Wells said in an interview. "I had written it off. I was prepared to go on to other ventures. So this was quite the surprise." Wells, who graduated from 糖心vlog官方入口 in May, was in a job interview process with an international organization when she heard from the Fulbright Program.
South America is familiar to Wells, who lived and studied in and during her college years. Now she will join more than 30 other recipients of Fulbright grants who will study and work in Colombia this coming year. Wells will help teach English to graduate students at the, Tunja.
Wells said her international experience has taught her a great deal. "Every time I am abroad, I am so amazed by the similarities as well as the differences in cultures. I think in this world, especially in my generation, globalization is key to our success. Part of this program is to create U.S.–Colombian relations, and I love that idea," she said. Wells also believes her Fulbright experience will benefit her in the future. She hopes to work in an international nonprofit organization, and perhaps one day, attend graduate school.
Wells credits , 糖心vlog官方入口 professor of Spanish and a former Fulbright Scholar, for motivating her to apply for the Fulbright teaching award. "I'm grateful Michelle will be able to use her considerable gifts in language, culture, and business to teach young Colombian students," Parkyn said. Wells "will listen, figure out how she can be of service, and dive right in to do all that it takes to be effective. Adaptability with a shot of hard work and determination describes her work these past four years. These qualities will help her to share our country, our language, and our spirit with students," she added.
Wells is looking forward to helping other students improve their English proficiency so they can better understand both English and Spanish, a plus in international business and commerce. "It's so important. Spanish has opened a lot of doors for me, even in the U.S. It's so critical for relating to people, and relating to people who are different than I am. I think for them it'll be very rewarding."
Wells earned a bachelor's degree from the University in , with concentrations in Latin American and African studies. Her minor was , plus she earned a . Wells' mother, Sue, is a teacher. Her father, Rev. David Wells, is a pastor of the (ECC), specializing in family and marriage counseling and therapy. 糖心vlog官方入口 is affiliated with the ECC.
Joining Wells with Fulbright Program teaching assignments this year are Karen Kelly and . Kelly, a 2012 University graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship to teach in a secondary school in , a small European country between France and Spain. Okore, associate professor and art department chair, was named a , and will teach and work closely on environmental art projects with artists, galleries, and art organizations in her home country of Nigeria.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
糖心vlog官方入口 Students to Attend Conference in Sweden September 12-16
Bridge Conference focuses on the environment, entrepreneurship, cultural exchange
CHICAGO (August 29, 2012) — Four senior 糖心vlog官方入口 students will be among about 60 students from the United States, Canada and Sweden who will attend the Swedish-American Bridge Conference in Karlstad, Sweden, Sept. 11–16. The conference aims to promote an eco-friendly and sustainable existence, focusing on the roles of cultural organizations, entrepreneurship and future-oriented research, said , dean, , and director, .
糖心vlog官方入口 and other universities of Swedish heritage in the United States were invited to select four students to participate in the conference, Peterson said. Two women and two men were chosen from several qualified applicants by a committee of University faculty in the sciences and business, he said. Each student submitted essays expressing interest in the conference, including experience in environmental studies or entrepreneurship, Peterson said.
糖心vlog官方入口 students who will attend are:
Calise Berger, Eagan, Minn., major: She wrote that she has visited scientific laboratories in St. Louis, to learn about career paths in research, and has visited community-based coffee and bread-making companies. "I am excited about pursuing further education in biological research, particularly within the realm of environmental microbiology," Berger wrote, adding she has "a deep interest in sustainability and stewardship when it comes to experiencing and utilizing our natural resources." She expects to learn more about sustainability and stewardship at the conference.
Alexander Elliott Gutierrez, Chicago, major with a marketing concentration: Gutierrez said his reason for attending the Karlstad conference is that he wants to participate in the , a comprehensive regional plan to help seven Chicago-area counties and 284 communities plan for sustainable prosperity. "I also hope to learn which post-graduate degrees … to pursue on sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation efforts that complement many of the world's cities," Gutierrez wrote.
Kia Lewis, Reston, Va., major: Lewis has studied in Seoul, South Korea, where she saw first-hand vigorous law-enforced recycling measures. She also participated in the in Chicago this year, where she joined other students in conversations about environmental topics. "I am still new to the subject of environmental issues," Lewis wrote, adding that attending the conference could help her learn from peers who are more experienced and well-versed about global concerns, and help her decide about attending graduate school.
Jon Ten Brink, Grandville, Mich., major: Ten Brink has worked at an organic, community-supported agriculture farm in Wisconsin, and , an Albany Park organization that serves as a community bookbinding facility. Ten Brink is also interested in conflict transformation that has focused on cultural barriers and conflicts. "I have developed a passion and value for cultural exchange and cooperation," he wrote in his essay. "This conference offers a great opportunity for me to further my education within the environmental field, my knowledge of small business, and cultural experiences in a whole new way."
Attending with the students are Dr. Wesley E. Lindahl, dean of the School of Business and Nonprofit Management and Nils Axelson Professor of Nonprofit Management, and Peterson. Conference keynote presenters are Dr. James "Jim" C. Spohrer, director of IBM University Programs worldwide; Jonas Hafström, Sweden's ambassador to the United States; and Mark Brzezinski, United States ambassador to Sweden.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
糖心vlog官方入口 Professors Teach Chinese Business Students
Dr. Al Kamienski taught classes in strategic management this summer during his second teaching visit to China.
Two professors visit Chinese university as part of exchange agreement
CHICAGO (July 17, 2012) — Two 糖心vlog官方入口 professors each spent one month in China this summer teaching university business students and professors. taught classes in strategic management and taught organizational behavior and ethics during their residencies at in Bengbu City.
糖心vlog官方入口 maintains with five Chinese universities, including Anhui University. Those agreements established cross-cultural learning and research opportunities for students and faculty, and promote student and faculty exchange.
"I am very pleased that our relationship with Anhui University continues each year," said , dean of the University's (SBNM) and Nils Axelson Professor of Nonprofit Management. "Having both Dr. Marsh and Dr. Kamienski teaching at Anhui this summer demonstrates the strength of our relationship. We also are planning to welcome two additional professors from Anhui this coming academic year, following the two professors that were a part of our community last year."
Marsh was in China from May 23 until she returned June 26. Chinese culture is very exam-driven, she said, and it's important that students and teachers develop critical reasoning skills to compete in the global marketplace. That's one of the reasons why the Chinese government is promoting exchanges of U.S. and Chinese faculty, said Marsh, SBNM associate professor of business and nonprofit management. "If the Chinese are going to compete, they have to do more than copy and repeat things," she said. "They have to learn to argue and think critically. They want us there to help reeducate some of the faculty to help develop a different kind of learning for the students."
Dr. Catherine Marsh was honored at a closing ceremony at Anhui University when she concluded her teaching residency.
Marsh, who lived in Japan earlier in her life, said the Chinese culture was quite different. Communication in English was not always easy, she said. "I think that the Chinese are very patient with us because they want to learn from us, Marsh said. "They know we can work together." Marsh hopes to return to Anhui University next year to teach, and wants to spend more time talking with professors and students about mutual research interests.
Kamienski, SBNM associate professor of finance, taught classes in China last year. He returned to teach for a month beginning May 14. Based on what he learned in his first experience, Kamienski said he structured his course to include more group-based activities, presentations, and simulations. "This year was much more of a group dynamic and feel," he said. "I thought it worked much better in terms of fostering student engagement, and they really seemed to thrive with that." Kamienski also lectured at a university in Shanghai while he was there, and would like to return someday.
Like many, the Chinese are committed to the next generation "having it better than they did," he said. Multiple generations of one family often live in the same household, Kamienski said, and hospitality is important. "They really take hospitality of foreigners seriously," he said. "The Chinese are always concerned about where you're at, what you're doing, who you're with, and how they can help."
Both 糖心vlog官方入口 professors want other colleagues to have the opportunity to work in China as they have had.
"I would love to see all of us do it," Marsh said. "While I was there, it became much clearer to me who I am and what I value." Especially valuable, she said, are opportunities to meet people one-on-one, and to meet them in their homes.
"This has been transforming and life-shaping for me in several ways. For any of our professors and staff, fantastic gains of friendship and culture can take place with such an experience," Kamienski said.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Learn more about 糖心vlog官方入口's with Chinese universities.
Read comments from the of he University's School of Business and Nonprofit Management.
糖心vlog官方入口 Graduate to Begin Two-Year Journey Across Africa
Amy Russell leads the 'Africa Walk" beginning Jan. 18.
Amy Russell and team to call for clean water, project fundraising
CHICAGO (January 12, 2012) – A 2010 糖心vlog官方入口 graduate, along with two companions, will leave the United States next week to start a two-year, 7,000-mile journey from southern Africa to its northern coast. Amy Russell is leading the journey to call attention to the need for clean water to help reduce extreme poverty, and to work toward a fundraising goal of $8 million to raise funds for water projects worldwide.
Russell, 23, who earned a bachelor's degree in business with a concentration in nonprofit management, said the decision to begin the "" is a calling inspired by God. The journey culminates some learnings about poverty while she was a North Park student. Russell was president of the University's chapter of , a Washington-based human rights agency, and took a class to learn more about human trafficking.
"I wrote some papers on this subject, and it became abundantly clear to me that one of the root causes of human trafficking and human suffering in the world is poverty," Russell said in an interview. Among other things, she also learned that "clean water is a first step in ending extreme poverty." Russell founded "" while she was a University student, an organization that calls attention to clean water needs, and raises funds for water projects. Walk4Water provides the funds to , New York, which sends 100 percent of its funds for water projects in developing nations.
Russell has walked in the United States, raising attention and funds for clean water. Last summer, she walked through her home state of Connecticut, and she walked 500 miles through California to raise attention for clean water. Walk4Water encourages groups and individuals to arrange similar fundraising experiences.
Russell will leave Newark, N.J., Jan. 18 and fly to Cape Town, South Africa. Two colleagues, Aaron Tharp, and Marty Yoder, will join her. The three will secure a support vehicle and collect supplies for their journey. They are expected to follow some of the eastern coastline of Africa, then travel north along the Nile River through Cairo, Egypt, and to their goal, the Mediterranean Sea. Others from Walk4Water will travel with the trio for selected portions of the trip. Though she has never been to Africa before, Russell and her colleagues have consulted people who have spent time there. Sub-Saharan Africa, she said, is one of the places where clean water needs are greatest. The three expect to "connect with many people, organizations, missionaries and orphanages along the way," she said. They will camp or stay with people during the journey, and volunteer with organizations already working in Africa.
Helping the trio is a . Matt Vickers, Chicago, support team coordinator, led a team which developed a marketing and fundraising plan for the trip. Vickers got to know Russell on mission trips while they were both University students. He earned a bachelor's degree in and in 2011. Vickers and Russell have talked about the idea of walking through Africa since 2009, he said. His team is also providing prayer support for Russell and the trio in Africa.
Russell, seen here as she began a walk across Connecticut in 2011, has done many long walks in the United States to call attention to the need for clean water.
Marketing and advertising will be aimed primarily at college students, church groups and others with an interest in the topic, Vickers said. They'll use the Web, social media tools, email, letter-writing and other tactics to spread their messages, raise funds and offer prayer support. At the end of the trip, the Walk4Water team plans to produce materials from the journey, and members will go on a speaking tour in the United States and United Kingdom.
"(This is) a huge goal I know Amy is capable of upholding," said Vickers. "She has a heart for it and strength for it. We've talked about the risks. She's done tons of research and will put herself into it. She's talked with many people who've been missionaries there."
Some 糖心vlog官方入口 faculty and staff are aware of Russell's dream to do something tangible to bring clean water to people in need. One is , Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. When Russell told him of the Africa journey, McKnight said he was concerned initially about the group's safety during such a trip.
"I had just returned from South Africa and a few had regaled me with stories of violence, and so her decision concerned me. She said they thought God would protect them (Theology 101 in my face)," he said.
"I have watched Amy and her friends grow and become solidified in this noble pursuit of justice for the poorest of the poor in our world," said McKnight, echoing the of preparing students for lives of significance and service through education. "I consider it a great privilege to say I was one of Amy's teachers," he added.
Also supporting Russell and her colleagues are members of , an congregation in Manchester, Conn., the congregation where Russell grew up. She has spoken there about her clean water work, and the congregation's youth group is providing offerings for the Africa Walk. 糖心vlog官方入口 is affiliated with the ECC.
The most difficult part of preparing for the Africa Walk has been assuring family and friends, Russell said. "My parents are supportive, though it took them a while to adjust to this idea," she said. Russell has one sibling, a sister, 19.
"This is definitely about God telling me to do this. I believe in the cause of clean water. I hope this inspires people to think bigger about the world, and believe in bigger things," she said.
Walk4Water's nonprofit partner organization is Global Outreach, Bramwell, W.V.
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With Help, 糖心vlog官方入口 Moms Persevere, Balance School, Home Lives
Adina Kaplan will graduate May 12, and hopes to be working as a labor and delivery nurse this fall.
Keys are support systems, focus and organization, they say
CHICAGO (May 11, 2012) – The end of the academic year for two 糖心vlog官方入口 women means graduation and a degree for one, while the other sets her sights on graduation in May 2013. Adina Kaplan and Felicia Patton are also mothers of young children, experiencing the full-time challenges of balancing family and student responsibilities at the same time. Focusing on their goals has kept them going.
This Mother's Day, May 14, Kaplan said she plans to sleep in, relax and enjoy the day — without studying in the library for the first time in a while. Patton said she plans to spend time with her mother and her mother-in law. Both will be out of school and at home with family for the summer, before resuming busy work and school schedules this fall.
Kaplan will graduate from the University May 12 with a Bachelor of Science in . She is the mother of three children – a girl, aged six; a three-year-old boy and a boy aged five months, born while she was in school full-time last fall. Some urged her to take the fall semester off, but for Kaplan, that was not an option. "I wanted to be in it 100 percent. I knew I had to go full-time. When I'm in school mode, it helps me to keep going," she said. Meanwhile, Kaplan's daughter started first grade, her older son is in a pre-school program, and a babysitter cared for the youngest at home.
With the help of her husband, Aaron, a commercial real estate broker, her in-laws, and a focus on keeping organized, Kaplan balanced school and family while completing her degree. The family support system was significant, she said.
Earning her nursing degree fulfills a dream Kaplan has had since she was very young. Before she came to North Park to be a full-time student in 2010, she attended Hebrew Theological College, Skokie, Ill., for three years as a part-time student, where she had started work on a bachelor's degree in education.
"I think anybody can do anything they put their mind to – if it's a passion of yours, I think you can do it," Kaplan said. "I'm a big believer in that. It's also a good thing for kids to see their parents in school, working hard and learning just as they are."
Kaplan plans to seek work this fall as a labor and delivery nurse, and said she is thinking about an eventual return to school to be a midwife.
Felicia Patton expects to earn a bachelor's degree in music in worship in 2013.
Patton is working toward a Bachelor's Degree in . She is the mother of two 8-year-old daughters, one of whom is adopted. Her husband, Marcus, is an office worker in a downtown Chicago firm. She came to North Park as a full-time student in 2009 after two years at a Chicago-area community college, and a brief stint in the U.S. Army after high school.
"As a musician, I'm always overloaded," she said. Her typical day begins at 5:30 a.m., getting her daughters up and ready for school. After she drops them off, Patton attends University classes, reads and does assignments during breaks in rehearsals or while she's having lunch, and picks up her daughters from school in the afternoon. She takes her daughters to an after-school sitter, cooks dinner for the family when she can, and often returns to school to attend night classes or attend choir practice. Marcus picks up the children from the sitter when he comes home. "By the time I get home the girls are asleep," she said. It's not unusual for Patton to get to bed at 1 a.m.
Beside classes, Patton participates in several music ensembles, including the University's gospel and jazz choirs. She is learning multiple instruments, and is a member of a student worship team. With so much happening in her life, Patton said staying focused is her motivation. "You have to know what the purpose is," she said. "The whole reason for being in school is that you achieve your goals. It's a gift to be a parent, but you have to grow up. It's fun, and it's rough at the same time. You have to focus. If you lean on your family, you'll be fine."
"Nobody in my family has gone to college. My husband is very supportive of me going to school, and he doesn't want me to drop out," she said. Marcus and the children attend Patton's concerts, and the children come to some rehearsals, she said. After college, Patton wants to work in a church setting as a choir director and worship leader. She sings now in various congregations, and substitutes for choir and worship leaders.
In addition to their families, Kaplan and Patton both say that faculty and friends at 糖心vlog官方入口 have been supportive. "Faculty were so accommodating, Kaplan said. "They worked with me on finding clinical sites, and tried to place me closer to my house so I could pick up my kids up from school. When I had my baby, they were super-accommodating, and so were my classmates."
"The faculty at North Park has been so supportive," Patton said. "They have helped me when I have family emergencies, or if my kids are sick. Most of the (music) faculty know my kids."
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
糖心vlog官方入口 Announces Campus Theme Lectures for 2012-2013 Academic Year
Sir Peter Crane presents the first Campus Theme Lecture Sept. 17 at 糖心vlog官方入口.
Speakers to address, 'What Is Nature?'
CHICAGO (August 27, 2012) — 糖心vlog官方入口 will host four prominent speakers in its annual Campus Theme Lecture Series, a series of public discussions reflecting a common theme throughout the academic year. For 2012–2013, speakers will address the theme, "What Is Nature?"
The lectures focus the University academic community on one question fundamental to human experience, said, assistant professor of as well as the director of and the . "The meaning, purpose, and interaction with the natural environment, in many ways, is one of the definitive questions with which a culture or historical age must wrestle, he said. "We chose the theme not only for its present cultural import but because it explicitly brings the sciences into dialogue with wider campus commitments to the arts, justice, multiculturalism, and the Christian faith."
Beginning with Sir Peter Crane's lecture Sept. 17, the speaker lineup is representative of the overall mission of North Park as a Christian liberal arts university, Clifton-Soderstrom said. "Each of our speakers has an impressive resume, is widely respected globally, and has also has sought to answer this question is truly interdisciplinary ways," he added.
All lectures will be held at 糖心vlog官方入口's , 3225 W. Foster Ave., Chicago.
September 17
The Biological Scientist:
Dr. Crane has had a distinguished and diverse career in the biological sciences. He is currently dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. For many years, he was director of England’s renowned Royal Botanical Gardens (KEW), was director of the , Chicago, for four years, and was a professor for seven years at the University of Chicago's Geophysical Science program. He is the author of seven books, more than 200 articles in both scientific and popular journals, and was knighted in 2004 for his conservation work.
October 15
The Nature Writer:
Best-selling and award-winning author Barry Lopez is widely recognized as one of this generation's best nature writers. His is author of Arctic Dreams, for which he received the; Of Wolves and Men, a National Book Award finalist for which he received the and medals; and eight works of fiction, including Light Action in the Caribbean, Field Notes, and Resistance. His essays are collected in two books, Crossing Open Ground and 糖心vlog官方入口 This Life. He contributes regularly to Granta, The Georgia Review, Orion, Outside, The Paris Review, Manoa and other publications in the United States and abroad. His writings have appeared in dozens of anthologies, including Best American Essays, Best Spiritual Writing, and "best" collections from National Geographic, Outside, The Georgia Review, The Paris Review, and other periodicals. His more recent publications include The Future of Nature.
November 1
The Environmental Activist:
Named by Forbes in 2010 as one of the most influential women in the world today, Dr. Shiva is a distinguished physicist and environmental activist from India. She is best known for her work on environmentally sound food production that honors both the earth and human rights, with particular attention paid to the rights of women in the agriculture systems within developing countries. Among her many awards, she was granted the , the , , and the
March 1, 10:30 a.m.
The Christian Astrophysicist:
Dr. Wiseman is an astronomer and director of the for the . She is the senior project scientist for the at , where she previously headed the Laboratory for Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics. Wiseman received a bachelor’s degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. She has been active in the dialogue on Christian faith and science over the years, and she has been featured on several broadcasts devoted to these topics.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Learn about the University's , including last year's participants.
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