Vice President for Advancement

Vice President for Advancement
North Park University, Chicago, IL

Introduction

North Park University is seeking a person of active and This mission-driven leader is expected to provide extraordinary
expressed Christian faith as its next highly accomplished vision, strategic guidance, and tactical management for the
Vice President for Advancement. A Christian university in the Office of Advancement. The successful candidate will continue
heart of Chicago, Illinois, North Park has a historic commitment building relationships with vital constituencies and securing
to three distinctive identities including Christian, city-centered, the financial resources necessary to maintain the University’s
and intercultural devotion. The university recently earned ascent. The successful candidate will also be a respectful,
its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The new Vice engaged, analytical, and an entrepreneurial leader with a
President for Advancement will have the extraordinary demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, student
opportunity to join North Park as the university reimagines success, and innovative enrollment growth.
and realizes its future in the rich tradition of Christian higher
education in 21st Century America. Reporting to the President,
the Vice President for Advancement will join a dynamic team
of leaders in the President’s Cabinet and work collaboratively
with the Board of Trustees and other critical stakeholders to
ensure the fiscal stability of the university.
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About North Park University

Founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church, North
Park is located on Chicago’s North Side, with satellite campuses
in Grayslake, Waukegan, and Arlington Heights. A values-driven
institution, North Park offers a distinctive learning community
that is:
F Christian—We nurture faith, balancing commitment
and freedom.
F City-centered—We engage Chicago as a dynamic place
of learning and service.
F Intercultural—We embrace and value all people,
celebrate the global cultural tapestry, and support
the reconciling mandate of the Christian gospel.

The campus community fondly refers to these values as our
“three distinctives” and looks to them as guideposts for con-
structing a learning environment. With a deep tradition in the
liberal arts and Christian faith, North Park welcomes students
from varying faith traditions to serve and learn from the
dynamic community around us.
The University serves an increasingly diverse population of
students from Chicago, the nation, and the world. In February
2020, North Park was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution
(HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. This designation, Mission
which recognizes an undergraduate student population that is
at least 25% Hispanic and reflects the University’s commitment The mission of North Park University, as the University of the
to expanding educational opportunities and improving attain- Evangelical Covenant Church, is to prepare students for lives
ment for students of diverse backgrounds, is an expression of of significance and service through education in the liberal arts,
the intercultural element of the University’s three distinctives. professional studies, and theology.
Also, in February 2020, the North Park University Board of
Trustees unanimously voiced its endorsement for North Park Vision
Next – the exciting, three-phase collaborative institutional plan-
ning enterprise to create an inspiring future and build on North Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-
Park’s distinctives to emerge as the compelling model centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of
for Christian higher education in 21st Century America. uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith,
learning, and service meet.
Progress on North Park Next can be followed at:
https://www.northpark.edu/north-park-next/.

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Location

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighbor- hood for many years. Nearby Lincoln Square offers additional
hood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes shops and restaurants, and the North Park Village Nature
in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago, Center boasts a 46-acre nature preserve and walking trails.
located between Cicero Avenue on the west and the North
Shore Channel on the east; the city limits and Devon Avenue The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in
on the north; and the North Branch of the Chicago River on the heart of the city—a place where students from urban, rural,
the south. and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this
within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the
The university is located near I-90, I-94, and Lake Shore Drive, world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for
making it a convenient driving distance for many areas of the its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for
city and nearby suburbs. Public transportation is also highly four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.
convenient: the CTA Brown Line train station is within walking
distance (0.6 mi.) and the CTA 92 bus route stops at campus
(Foster and Spaulding).
Albany Park includes a broad range of housing options, from
rental apartments to single family homes. Many residents in the
immediate vicinity of the University have lived in the neighbor-
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Governance

North Park University is governed by a Board of Trustees that Mary Karsten Surridge is the 10th president of North Park
includes both members elected by the Evangelical Covenant University and has served since the beginning of the 2018–2019
Church (ECC) and others appointed by the Board itself; all of academic year. The first woman to serve as President at North
whom are approved by the ECC. Members serve a three-year Park, she has brought to life a new era of leadership, engage-
term and may be elected and/or appointed for up to four ment, and vision, with her strong conviction that in the sum of
consecutive three-year terms. The work of the Board is orga- the University’s three distinctives—Christian, city-centered
nized according to committees on Academics, Advancement, and intercultural—North Park finds its unique value, its
Finance, Marketing and Communications, the Seminary, competitive advantage, and its opportunity to emerge as the
Student Recruitment and Retention, and the Committee compelling model for Christian higher education in 21st Century
on Trustees. America.
President Surridge brings a wealth of leadership experiences
in higher education. Before becoming President, in a career at
North Park that spanned more than 20 years, she served as Vice
President for Advancement, oversaw undergraduate enrollment,
and coached women’s basketball. As advancement VP, Surridge
led Campaign North Park, the most ambitious fundraising
campaign in the School’s history. It raised $63 million in finan-
cial commitments, including $41 million for the construction
of the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and
Community Life. The cutting-edge facility opened in 2014.
Before arriving at North Park, Surridge was Associate Director
of planned and major gifts at Northwestern University in
Evanston, Illinois; Director of Residence Life and Student
Activities at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin; and
Dean of Students at Marian College (now Marian University)
in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. At Concordia, she earned a master’s
degree in student personnel administration. As an undergrad-
uate at Northwestern, Surridge earned a bachelor’s degree in
speech communication.
Mary Karsten Surridge
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Students and Campus Life
The University serves an increasingly diverse population These student populations are equally diverse, with 59%
of students from the city of Chicago, the nation, and the world. female students and 54% identifying as students of color.
There is no racial or ethnic majority in the undergraduate
population, as no racial or ethnic category is represented above There is a vibrant campus life at North Park. In addition to
50%. Of traditional undergraduates, 51.9% identify as students an active student government, there are approximately
of color. The religious beliefs of students represent a 30 registered student organizations. Existing student organiza-
wide variety of faith backgrounds, including the Evangelical tions fall under five categories: academic and education clubs,
Covenant Church, other Protestant denominations, many of which are connected to academic majors; club sports
Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. that participate in intramural and extramural competitions;
Undergraduate students are 58% female, 65% commuter, cultural clubs, which focus on advocacy, celebrating diverse
and 80% from the state of Illinois. backgrounds, and providing education on various social
identities; social clubs that gather around general areas of
Fall 2021 undergraduate enrollment was 1,855 students, as interest but commit to a cause or project; and media and
North Park welcomed the largest incoming first-year cohort periodical publications, which are student-run publications.
in our 130-year history. There are no Greek social organizations at North Park.
Also contributing to North Park’s student body are 559
graduate students and 389 enrolled in the Seminary.
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Students and Campus Life
Athletics are an integral part of North Park University.
The Vikings compete at the NCAA Division III level as
members of the prestigious College Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin (CCIW) in 19 varsity sports. One-third of
undergraduate students are student-athletes and are expected
to work for academic and athletic success. Coaches recruit
students who want a college education and encourage their
athletes to perform to their best levels in the classroom.
Through the University’s Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee, student-athletes participate in the deliberation
of policies and welfare issues. The athletics programs enjoy
the support of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other
friends of the University. The cumulative GPA for our
student-athletes is 3.18.
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Academic Affairs

The academic program at North Park is delivered through six programs in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics,
colleges and schools: College of Arts and Sciences; School of and psychology.
Business & Nonprofit Management; School of Education; School
of Nursing & Health Sciences; School of Music, Art, and Theatre; The School of Business & Nonprofit Management (SBNM)
and School of Professional Studies. The University is also home offers bachelor’s degrees in advertising, business and nonprofit
to the North Park Theological Seminary, the denominational management, with specializations in areas such as accounting,
Seminary of the Evangelical Covenant Church. finance, marketing, and sport management, among others.
The SBNM also offers five master’s degrees and 16 graduate
Effective for the Fall 2022 Academic Year, the undergraduate certificates. All graduate degree programs and some certificates
experience at North Park will include 30 majors and programs offer the option of attending completely online. Finally, the
in the liberal arts and sciences, including pre-professional Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management curates professional
options like law, medicine, and art therapy, all in a world-class development opportunities, services, and resources for
city and a diverse faith community. individuals and organizations in the nonprofit sector.
The College of Arts and Sciences houses two divisions. The The School of Education offers bachelor’s degrees and
Division of Humanities and Social Sciences offers degree credentialing for teaching in elementary, middle grades, senior
programs in communication arts, English, modern languages, high or K-12 school programs; a post-bachelor’s teacher
history, philosophy, politics and government, and sociology/ licensure program; and five approval or endorsement options
criminal justice. The Division of Sciences offers degree in areas such as bilingual, English as a Second Language; and
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Students and Campus Life
special education. Additionally, the School offers four master’s Corrections facilities at Stateville Correctional Center and Lo-
degrees in education, educational leadership, literacy, language, gan Correctional Center. This is the only program where
culture, and teaching. free and incarcerated students can study and learn together in
the same classroom. NPTS also offers continuing education
The School of Nursing & Health Sciences offers programs opportunities for pastors, including administering the Covenant
in both areas. In nursing, students can pursue a bachelor’s in Orientation program and foundational courses certificate,
nursing (BSN); master’s degrees in leadership and management both of which are necessary for credentialing in the Evangelical
and advanced practice nursing that lead to specializations in Covenant Church. Additional continuing education opportuni-
adult-gerontology or family practice; and two post-master’s ties include many kinds of fieldwork, workshops and seminars,
certificates. Health Sciences offers three bachelor’s degrees in and other opportunities for a variety of audiences.
exercise science, health sciences, and physical education; and
a master’s degree in athletic training. Students also have the
option of pursuing a 3 2 program in athletic training.
The School of Music, Art, and Theatre (SMAT) offers programs
and degrees in each of these areas. The Music Department
offers four bachelor’s degrees in music and music education,
two master’s degrees in collaborative piano/vocal coaching
and vocal performance, a music minor, and two certificates in
arts management and music for social change and human
values. The Art Department offers bachelor’s degrees with
two concentration options in fine arts and graphic design; a
pre-professional program in art therapy; and an arts
management certificate. The Theatre Department includes
both the minor and a production company developed around Each of the academic units makes a unique contribution to
a distinctive storefront model that creates productions, at least the North Park mission, and they also collaborate through
one produced off-campus at a professional theatre space in Catalyst 606, an innovative program that allows the campus
Chicago. This active learning enables cross-training for community to engage both experiential learning and
students to develop practical skills that production members community outreach. Operating with both curricular and
need to be successful. co-curricular components, Catalyst has become a signature
feature of the undergraduate experience. No classes are held
The School of Professional Studies (SPS) offers bachelor’s on Wednesday afternoons so that students can be sent into
degree completion and certificate programs online, the local community to engage with Chicago as their classroom
on-campus in Chicago or Grayslake, or in a combination of and Chicagoans as their teachers. This distinctive program
online and face-to-face courses. Prior Learning Assessment enables North Park students to engage with different Chicago
also enables students to get credit for work done as part of neighborhoods (each with a zip code that begins with 606,
an experience outside a traditional academic environment. thus inspiring the name of the program).
North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) offers specialized
graduate certificates and graduate degrees. NPTS also offers
graduate degrees through the School of Restorative Arts (SRA),
a unique program housed within the Illinois Department of
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Role of the Vice President for Advancement
North Park University is seeking a Vice President for Advance- Enhance philanthropic collaboration across the University
ment to lead the Office of Advancement of the University, Provide the vision, goals, education, infrastructure, and
succeeding President Mary K. Surridge, the previous Vice operating procedures to manage some of the University’s
President. Working closely with President Surridge and the most important relationships, thereby increasing coordina-
other members of the University’s Cabinet, the Vice President tion and collaboration across the campus. Work with
for Advancement will lead the areas of alumni relations and academic and staff leadership to identify key opportunities
engagement, development, and special events. for various campus partners to participate in and augment
the overall University advancement objectives.
Building on the prior success of the University’s largest
and most successful campaign, Campaign North Park, the Required Qualifications
University recently concluded a successful fundraising We seek an experienced advancement professional with pro-
initiative that included a focused campaign on seminary gressively responsible managerial and leadership positions in
facilities and created a strategic new scholarship program, advancement; a proven track record in principal and major gift
targeting the recruitment and retention of new students fundraising; and a broad understanding of the various roles,
in specific areas of opportunity and need. functions; and responsibilities of the different units within
the Office of Advancement. Direct experience in a complex
Leadership Opportunities university with multiple academic units, student success
There are several unique leadership opportunities to refine offerings, and NCAA Division III athletics will be particularly
current and develop new approaches to advancement and beneficial. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
alumni relations: is required, and an advanced degree is preferred. In addition,
a qualified candidate for this leadership position will have:
Build the next campaign for North Park
Evolving from the university’s new strategic plan and F An understanding of and personal commitment to North
campus master plan that are currently being developed, Park’s mission of Christian higher education.
North Park’s next comprehensive campaign will seek to
encourage and secure significant commitments to address F Significant experience conducting or managing prospect
the strategic funding priorities for the future of the discovery and pipeline development, as well as cultivating
University. The next campaign will also serve as an and soliciting major gifts from individuals, foundations, and/
important opportunity to engage in and deepen relation- or corporations.
ships with North Park’s alumni and friends.
F Successful experience participating in the planning for, or
Further develop alumni engagement strategies implementation of, a multi-faceted comprehensive campaign.
Alumni Relations has a unique opportunity to partner
with the Center for Student Engagement and engage F Demonstrated experience in developing traditional and
University alumni in partnerships that will provide robust virtual alumni and constituent engagement efforts while
internship and career opportunities for North Park students. unapologetically championing philanthropic participation.
Intentional collaboration with Student Engagement
will greatly enhance the overall student experience and F History of identifying, cultivating, and retaining trustee
contribute to student outcomes, and will also provide candidates and other key volunteer committee members.
meaningful opportunities for involvement with alumni
who are eager to mentor and hire fellow North Parkers. F Ability to serve and add value to the high-performing and
dynamic senior leadership of the University.
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Role of the Vice President for Advancement
F Experience managing and mentoring staff to effective, F Fostering a strong and collaborative partnership with univer-
metrics-driven performance, leading with a sense of sity leaders by:
confidence and honesty, and challenging them to meet
aspirational goals and outcomes in a cooperati

Job Type: Full-time