A message from the Dean:

Every day, I’m inspired by North Park students—their belief in the power of change and their commitment to making a difference. As educators, it’s our responsibility and privilege to equip them for lives of significance and service. As University Dean, my role is to support faculty development so they can be at their best in preparing our students.

North Park’s identity as an intercultural university is reflected in its diverse student body. A diverse faculty is essential—not only so students see themselves represented in their educators, but also to enrich learning by exposing them to different perspectives. I’m committed to strengthening efforts to recruit and retain faculty of color who bring expertise, mentorship, and meaningful impact to our students’ experience.

I’m constantly thinking about how we, as a faculty, can deepen our subject expertise and better support student growth. Our academic programs balance rigorous classroom learning with experiential opportunities, engaging with the vibrant life of Chicago. Whether in the arts, sciences, or technology, we aim to prepare students to make real-world contributions.

As Dean, I’m guided by principles that include fostering creativity, supporting innovation, promoting inclusive excellence, and investing in faculty development. With these priorities in place, I remain committed to evolving this role to meet the needs of both faculty and students.

Teaching & Learning Cooperative

Mission

The mission of the North Park University Teaching and Learning Cooperative (TLC) is to cultivate best practices for effective pedagogy, instructional technology and student learning.

In order to achieve this mission, the TLC:

• Supports faculty in efforts of teaching and learning;
• Offers faculty development opportunities focused on effective teaching and learning, including workshops, book groups, and discussions throughout the semester; and
• Collaborates with other NPU units (e.g., School of Education, the Academic Technology Committee, etc.) to promote improvements in teaching and learning.

Events

The TLC hosts a faculty reading group each semester, a summer workshop with two possible attendance options (May and August), and one-time workshops as requested for the faculty retreat, professional development day or special events. The TLC also sponsors Monday Morning Mentor, a weekly 20-minute webinar on teaching during the academic year.

The TLC welcomes participation from from full-time faculty, adjunct instructors, and staff at NPU who are teaching, or are interested in teaching.

The TLC sponsors:

• Pedagogy Book Clubs
• Summer workshops
• Monday morning mentors (sign up here)