Mark Olson Named Dean of Enrollment at North Park

Olson assumes the admissions and financial aid oversight responsibilities held by John Baworowsky, who will leave North Park to become vice president for enrollment at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

An ordained Covenant pastor, Olson will serve as chief enrollment officer of all undergraduate and graduate programs, including those for North Park Theological Seminary. He will supervise North Park's financial aid programs and systems and continue to oversee all university initiatives and relations with the Evangelical Covenant Church.

While serving as dean of university ministries during the past two years, Olson developed and implemented a strategic plan to improve the quality of outreach and campus ministries. He was instrumental in coordinating development of a new Center for Youth Ministry Studies, establishing an Internet-based speakers bureau and overseeing marketing efforts.

Olson is both a graduate of North Park University (then College) and the seminary. He was senior pastor at Faith Evangelical Covenant Church in Colorado Springs (1988-1998) and the Evangelical Covenant Church of Aurora, Colorado (1979-1988) before returning to the campus. He also served two pastorates in Lake Norden, South Dakota, and was student activities director at North Park after college. Olson's wife, Doreen, is executive minister of the Department of Christian Formation.

He has served on boards of several Covenant institutions including Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, Covenant Retirement Communities, Covenant Bible College and Lake Beauty Bible Camp. He also has served on the Corporate and Foundation and the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management advisory boards at North Park.

"I am very confident that Mark's leadership and management background, his understanding of North Park and the Evangelical Covenant Church, his experience with the College Seminar and his other many talents will bring both stability and energy to our recruitment efforts," said Bruce Bickner, North Park's acting chief executive officer. Bickner is handling North Park administrative matters during the absence of President David Horner, who is on sabbatical leave.

Reverend Alise Barrymore, campus pastor, will assume the leadership of university ministries and will become a member of the provost's cabinet, reporting to Provost Margaret Haefner.

For more information on Olson or the newly configured position he will assume, call Debbie Larsen, North Park University's assistant director of communications, at 773-244-5750.

Printable version of this page.