Covenant News

NPU Presidential Candidate Withdraws Name

CHICAGO, IL (May 3, 2005) - One of the three candidates for the presidency at North Park University has removed his name from consideration, Covenant News Service has learned. Jonathan Heintzelman, who visited the campus in late April, informed the Presidential Search Committee of his decision on Monday.

"The committee thanks Jon for his thoughtful consideration of the position, including his interview with the search committee and his participation in the faculty, staff and student forums conducted during his campus visit," said Bruce Bickner, chair of the search committee. "We wish him well in his continuing role as vice president for advancement at Loyola University in Chicago."

The two remaining candidates are Kurt F. Geisinger, vice president for academic affairs and a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, and John E. Phelan Jr., president, dean and professor of biblical literature at North Park Theological Seminary.

All of the candidates and their spouses visited the campus and met with the campus community the week of April 25.

The search committee will review the status of the search process and prepare a recommendation to the North Park University Board of Trustees for presentation during its May meeting. The recommended candidate must then receive the endorsement of the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and approval at delegates to the ECC Annual Meeting in late June.

To read an earlier online news story when the names of the three candidates were first announced, please see Presidential Search.

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