91ÊÓƵ

91ÊÓƵ Names New Faculty, Staff for 2012–2013 Academic Year

91ÊÓƵ Names New Faculty, Staff for 2012–2013 Academic Year

Employees welcomed at 'Gathering Day'

CHICAGO (August 22, 2012) — 91ÊÓƵ welcomed new full-time faculty and staff to the University as the 2012–2013 academic year began. The new employees were introduced to the University community August 21 at North Park's annual Gathering Day activities, held in .

New Faculty

• Cheri Coakley, visiting assistant professor of
• Dr. Daniel White Hodge, assistant professor of youth ministry, and director,
• Dr. John J. Laukaitis, assistant professor of
• Dr. Kezia Shirkey, assistant professor of
• Sarah Thorngate, instructor of bibliography/reference and electronic resources librarian,

New Staff

• Cordell Henry, assistant men's basketball coach
• Tom Slyder, head men's basketball coach
• Paul Thomas, head women's soccer coach

• Roby Geevarghese, major gift officer
• Carissa Gomez, stewardship coordinator
• Sarah Snow, major gift officer

• Catherine Howorth, support services coordinator

• Tracy Churchill, recruitment associate
• Jennifer Lundeen Dixon, director of undergraduate recruitment

• Andrew Johnson, technology coordinator
• Andre Lodree, technology coordinator

• Dr. Sumie Song, assistant director

• Anna-Kajsa Anderson, director of

Physical Plant

• Jim Needleman, groundskeeper

Residence Life

• Cat Fillmore, resident director, Anderson Hall
• Candice Johnson, resident director, apartments and houses
• Belford Williams, Jr., resident director, Ohlson House and Sohlberg Hall

• Charisma Eaglin, chemical hygiene and lab safety officer

• Rev. David Kersten, dean

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak

91ÊÓƵ Hosts 54 International Students in American Studies Program

91ÊÓƵ Hosts 54 International Students in American Studies Program

Four participants in the University's Summer ESL American Studies Program are, from left to right, Yoa Jung Cho, Hyun Jung Park and Jong Pil Park, all from Seoul, South Korea, and Chien Chih Kao, Taipei, Taiwan.

Program combines ESL classes with cultural learning, field trips

CHICAGO (July 3, 2012) — On July 4, nearly all of the international students in an English language immersion program this summer at 91ÊÓƵ, Chicago, will experience for the first time what an American is about. That is one piece of their immersion as participants in the University's Summer ESL American Studies program, combining English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, cultural exploration and field trips throughout the Chicago area.

"We're studying English through the vehicle of Chicago," said Dr. Kristin Lems, the program's director. "It's an academic program, and it's built on the cultural piece of Chicago — what the city offers in the summer, Chicago's history, and how the values and lifestyle of Chicago reflect American values and lifestyle."

The 54 students, mostly college-age, are from seven countries, plus three immigrant students who live in the Chicago area. Becoming more proficient in speaking English and learning about U.S. culture are the reasons why they are in the University's ESL American Studies program.

"People in Korea think English is very important, and I thought I wanted to study English in Chicago," said Jong Pil Park, Seoul, South Korea, one of 24 South Korean students in the program. Jong is an oriental philosophy major at , Seoul, which maintains a with 91ÊÓƵ.

"I came here because I want to learn 'live' English," said Hyun Jung Park, also a student in oriental philosophy at SKKU. "Koreans tend to learn English only by reading." Hyun said she is interested in Chicago's diverse culture, and learning about the differences between Eastern and Western philosophy. She added that she is grateful for the education offered through the 91ÊÓƵ program.

Chien Chih Kao, Taipiei, Taiwan, wants to improve his English speaking ability and make friends from different countries. He's a fan of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) system and its convenience. "This city is like a 'small America.' You can feel the diverse culture here, and see the beautiful scenery and the modern buildings," he said. "Everybody's kind, and they say hello, even if we have not met before." Chien is a physics major at , Taichung, Taiwan.

91ÊÓƵ students Saada Hilts, left, and Brian Gatheru are program assistants with the Summer ESL program.

During the intensive five-week program, the students will take 12 field trips, all on CTA transportation, and visit Chicago cultural attractions, such as museums, ethnic festivals and neighborhoods, and a Fourth of July parade. New to the program this year are community service projects, and spending time with Chicago-area host families. One service project was at the , where the students cleaned up classrooms and planted a garden.

Lems explained that the community service projects are significant grassroots experiences, in which the international students witness a community working together for the common good. The host families home visit idea came about through Lems' own international experiences. "I remember that when I lived abroad, and when other people talk about living abroad, the most precious experiences are the ones when you're inside the home of someone from that country, not just shopping or being at a restaurant or being in a museum -— it's being in someone's home," she said. At least 35 91ÊÓƵ faculty and staff families are hosting students for Sunday meals, Lems said.

Working with Lems are two 91ÊÓƵ students, Saada Hilts and Brian Gatheru, and Kennan Daoudi, a student at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn. Hilts was born in Ethiopia, and Gatheru comes from Kenya. Both are resident advisors at the University.

The University's ESL American Studies program was founded by Dr. Dennis Bricault, professor of Spanish and director of the University's ESL program. This summer, students in the American Studies program are from South Korea, Mexico, China, Spain, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and the United States.

Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .

Author tomgabrysiak