Phillips has more than 25 years of leadership experience, having founded church congregations and most recently serving in the Biden-Harris administration as executive director of local, faith, and transformative partnerships at the United States Agency for International Development.

“It’s pretty exciting to see how we’ve more than doubled in size and scope in the past few years,” Phillips said in a statement. “[We’ve become] an industry leader in interfaith diversity work in corporate America and a national leader in seeking the promise of America’s diverse democracy through our civic partnerships.”

Interfaith America was founded in 2002 with the idea that religious differences should serve as a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. Read more here.

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North Park’s Center for Civic Engagement, Office of Intercultural Student Affairs, Office of the Provost, and University Ministries hosted the series inspired by McAnnally-Linz’s book, which is based on Yale University’s most in-demand course of the same name.��

The events open to the campus community included a chapel service, Catalyst on Campus, and Fika Forum, at which the discussions encouraged participants to consider their own definitions of a meaningful life and how their values shape their choices. Later in the evening, select students shared a meal and conversation with McAnnally-Linz to dive even deeper into the theme.��

Life Worth Living—and, by extension, the event series—is significant to North Park, as all three co-authors have connections to the Evangelical Covenant Church. By weaving perspectives from multiple faith and philosophical traditions, the book and events invited individuals to explore what it means to live purposefully.��

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North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) and Seminary Now announce the release of a new streaming video course featuring Dr. Max Lee, the Paul W. Brandel Chair of Biblical Studies at NPTS. Titled Colossians: A Disruptive Display of Christian Imagination, the course will be available beginning April 9 through .

As a leading New Testament scholar and dedicated educator, Lee is passionate about preparing students and ministry leaders to teach and apply Scripture faithfully. His course provides historical context and theological depth, making it an essential resource for pastors, teachers, and lifelong learners.

Key themes covered in the course include:

• God as Creator and Redeemer
• A call to faith and ministry
• Building your life in Christ and His mission
• A theology of the cross

In a world of chaos and uncertainty,��Colossians��continues to speak powerfully across the ages, calling believers to respond to the God revealed in Christ with dynamic faith and worship. Lee’s course provides a historical, theological, and pastoral introduction to this essential New Testament text, equipping learners to engage it for study, teaching, and personal devotion.

This course is part of Seminary Now’s growing library of streaming theological content. The digital learning platform provides accessible, high-quality education for church leaders and Christian communities.

Read more about Lee.

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Events kick off on April 22 and continue throughout the week with on-campus happenings like yoga, wall-climbing, plogging, and a special chapel service and a virtual historical overview of North Park’s campus with archivist Andy Meyer. View the .

Friends and alumni are encouraged to participate in person or remotely by donating funds, wearing blue and gold, and sharing their Viking pride on social media. Funds will benefit the North Park Fund, Student Care Fund, and the Viking Club, providing students with financial assistance and infrastructure improvements to promote academic and athletic excellence.

North Park appreciates gifts of any size, as each makes a difference in students’ lives. Donate and follow the action .

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Based on true events, the movie stars Craig T. Nelson and tells a heartfelt story about a Wisconsin farmer who risks everything by betting on the Green Bay Packers to win the Super Bowl. Audiences have praised it for its emotional depth and strong character-driven narrative.����

Rooted in their upbringing within faithful Christian communities, Lindwall and his brother Davin Lindwall—who produced the film—prioritized subtly yet meaningfully incorporating their faith into the story. Their father, Edward Lindwall BA ’77, is a North Park graduate alongside their sister Krista Lindwall BA ’07, BS ’07.��

In characteristic North Parker spirit, local alumni gathered to watch the premiere at a nearby theater.��

Read more in the and .��

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The three-year,��$500,000��NSF grant will fund the hiring of��Claudia Gonzalez, who has a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, as the advisor for first-year STEM students. As a former admissions counselor at��St. Augustine College, Gonzalez is well-equipped to guide students through the challenges of their demanding majors.

“At North Park, we are dedicated to providing our students with the tools, mentorship, and faith-centered support they need to succeed,” said Matthew Schau,�� professor of biology. “Claudia’s experience and passion for helping students navigate the complexities of college life will have a lasting impact on the success of our first-year STEM students.” Schau was assisted in securing the grant by��Evelyn Aucutt, senior director of academic engagement and student success,��Kurt Sheu, assistant professor of mathematics, and��Ekaterini Koutsouris, advisor for advanced education in the health professions.

Gonzalez will provide personalized guidance to students as they adjust to the demands of college coursework. Her efforts will focus on enhancing retention rates, which is crucial given the national trend of high attrition rates among STEM students—especially women and students of color. According to 2024 data from the American Society for Engineering Education, nearly 13% of STEM majors leave their programs after the first year.

“It’s critical to create an environment where students feel supported and connected from day one,” Gonzalez said. “Having someone help them with everything from academic challenges to personal concerns can make all the difference. As a first-generation college student, I know how important it is to have a support system.”

Gonzalez will also teach an introductory psychology course to help students develop the foundational skills they need to succeed in college. Topics will include everything from navigating a syllabus to understanding the importance of faculty office hours.

North Park University��offers a wide variety of STEM majors, including pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, biochemistry, and biotechnology. It remains committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and faith-centered environment where all students can succeed.

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Viable candidates must graduate from Illinois College, located in Jacksonville, Illinois, said Andrew Lundgren, North Park’s athletic training program director and an associate professor of athletic training.

As part of the program, Illinois College faculty will recommend candidates for North Park’s MSAT program for the two guaranteed spots. Then, those chosen must go through the same application process as other candidates.

“We have found there are students drawn to North Park’s program because we’re in Chicago,” Lundgren said. “We have so many professional sports teams and clinical opportunities, and that’s a huge draw for athletic training students.”

Partnering with trusted institutions allows North Park to recruit strong applicants, said Lundgren, who is in talks to enter partnerships with additional schools. North Park is uniquely positioned to offer a high-quality MSAT degree, with its Chicago location, cutting-edge facilities, and hands-on training.

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This ranking recognizes the university’s priority in creating an inclusive, intercultural environment where students from around the world can collaborate and learn. Of the more than 3,000 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students currently enrolled, more than 300 are international students, collectively coming from more than 50 countries.��

��������has a dedicated department for international students: the Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA guides international students as they navigate life in the United States, from understanding their visa, to enrolling in insurance, to paying taxes, to applying for a driver’s license. OIA also hosts events for international students, helping them connect with clubs and activities on campus and making North Park and Chicago a home away from home.����

Enrolled students, parents, or those looking to research North Park’s benefits for international students can visit its web page to learn more.��

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“We want our students to learn about this subject hands-on, not through YouTube videos or in TED Talks, which is why I’m grateful for the partnership,” said Professor of Biology Dr. Timothy Lin, who initiated the program.

Synthetic biology modifies DNAs and RNAs to design new proteins into a system that addresses global health and biomanufacturing issues. Northwestern’s “SynBio” lab in Evanston, Illinois, touts itself as a “global hub [that] helps solve some of society’s most pressing challenges.”

For instance, one practical application of biosynthetic research is the creation of lab-made foods to address global food shortages.

As part of the program, up to two North Park students per year, selected from a pool of about 20 MBBT��majors eligible to apply, will spend 10 hours a week at Northwestern, earning credit toward graduation.

The program started after Lin—who hosts a career development series for science majors—invited Dr. Danielle Tullman-Ercek, Northwestern’s Master of Biotechnology program director, to speak about solving societal issues with synthetic biology. After her visit in 2022, she was so impressed with North Park’s program, Lin said, that she invited one of North Park’s students to participate in an internship the following summer.

North Park is uniquely positioned as one of the only Midwestern schools offering undergraduate degrees in molecular biology and biotechnology. Lin is pursuing connections with other schools and industries, including Roosevelt University, to create more career and internship opportunities for North Park students.

“Synthetic biology is the future,” Lin said. “Whether it’s designing a new protein or an antibody, it’s a growing field that will get even bigger with the help of artificial intelligence.”

“The internship agreement with Northwestern is just the beginning,” Lin said. “Our MBBT program will continue to develop in related areas and provide our students with more career opportunities.”

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The award is named for Pam Lydic, the first president and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. It recognizes an individual who has united groups around a common goal to move the region forward. Read more at .

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