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Since the founding of the College, Trinity has welcomed the start of the academic year with opening Convocation. The tradition continued on Aug. 28 with the 61^st Annual Convocation.

As part of another deeply rooted tradition, the 2019-20 Professor of the Year Kara E. Wolff, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Counseling and Psychology, gave the address. “Trinity is more Trinity because Dr. Wolff works here,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., in introducing Wolff.

In her address to faculty, staff, and students, she spoke about how flourishing is not easy, but it is good. “And what is flourishing? In God’s eyes, it is engaging in that which both glorifies God and serves the community,” she said. Wolff went on to discuss how racism in particular blocks our path to thriving as a community.

“Racism is a barrier to justice in society and to flourishing at Trinity,” said Wolff, citing research that she and Associate Professor of Psychology Jessica Clevering have conducted. “We have a unique call as a Christian college. Diversity is not enough. We need space for true belonging.”

Wolff encouraged everyone to examine their own biases and be willing to be honest with themselves. “Justice work is our Savior’s language,” she said. “We serve a God who loves mercy and justice.”

This year’s Convocation began with an organ prelude by Prof. Minkyoo Shin, D.M. Trinity’s Gospel, led by Nicole St. Victor and accompanied on piano by Greg St. Victor, performed several numbers.

President Kurt Dykstra, J.D., provided the welcome, and Campus Ministry Prayer Leader Komaria Carpenter ’21 offered the invocation. Ladarius Beal ’21, president of the Black Student Union; Micaela Humenik ’21 president of Sabor Latino; and Ross Barz ’21, president of the Student Government Association, read from the scriptures.

The prayers of thanksgiving and petition for faculty, staff, and students were given by Professor of Music Helen Hoekema Van Wyck, D.M.A.; Associate Dean for Adult Undergraduate Programs Rakisha Sloane, Ed.D.; and President of the Asian American Alliance Ranita Luhur ’21.

Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Formation Rev. Willis Van Groningen, Ph.D., closed Convocation with a benediction.

Miller ’17 Brings Trinity Teaching and Philosophy to Chicago Public Schools

With a graduate degree from Trinity, Erin Miller ’17 is working to make a difference in the lives of students and their families in Chicago Public Schools. Miller, who advanced her career with CPS by completing Trinity’s Behavior Intervention Specialist program, was recently promoted to Manager of Specialized Behavioral Support and Strategy for the country’s third-largest school system.

In her role, Miller oversees a highly sought after team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). The team assists teachers, students, and families in providing appropriate educational, behavioral, environmental, and social skills support for students who are diagnosed with disabilities and experiencing challenging behavior in the school setting.

Studying applied behavior analysis (ABA) at Trinity has translated to real improvements in the lives of students, she said. “The impact has been amazing,” she said. “Watching a student go from engaging in extremely challenging behavior to being an active participant in their classroom and thriving behaviorally and academically is definitely the most rewarding part of the job.”

ABA, a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior, helps to understand how behavior works, how it is affected by the environment, and how learning takes place. The goal of ABA is to implement strategies that lead to behavior change, an increasingly important and in-demand field today and the focus of Trinity’s Master of Arts in Special Education Behavior Intervention Specialist program.

In her new role, Miller oversees day-to-day operations, receives and prioritizes behavioral requests, assigns cases, provides ongoing supervision to all team members, directs professional development, and collaborates with other departments. She also manages her own caseload of behavior requests and requests for school-based supports.

Prior to her promotion, Miller worked as a Coordinator and District Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for the Autism and Behavioral Health Support Team with CPS and taught special education for seven years. She earned her undergraduate degrees in Special Education and Therapeutic Recreation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

“I loved being a teacher,” said Miller. “I spent a lot of time crafting the lessons and interventions for my students, but I was limited in my capacity. In this role at CPS, we are able to support hundreds of students, staff, and families each year.”

And the science of behavior is applicable to anyone, of any age, in any field, said Miller. “My husband, who work in sales, has used the principles of ABA to increase sales, productivity, and motivation in the business world, and even completed a certificate in Organizational Behavior Management, a branch of ABA,” she said.

This article originally appeared on pp 20-21 of the 2019 issue of Trinity magazine. Didn’t get your copy of Trinity magazine? Let us know! You can update your contact information here.

Once considered separate realms, there has been a reawakening of interest in a dialogue between theology and the arts, according to Professor of Music Mark Peters, Ph.D., in his recent review of Jeremy S. Begbie’s latest book.

In reviewing A Peculiar Orthodoxy, Reflections on Theology and the Arts, published in “The Christian Century,” Peters explores the collection of nine essays  by Begbie, who is Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Professor of Theology at Duke Divinity School.

According to the Peters, “Begbie’s clearly structured arguments draw on a vast body of literature in a wide range of disciplines. Readers will benefit from deep engagement with each of the chapters.” Peters looks particularly closely at two of the chapters: “Room of One’s Own? Music, Space, and Freedom” and “The Holy Spirit at Work in the Arts: Learning from George Herbert.”

Monday, Aug. 19 was a great day for the 33^rd Annual Trinity Athletics Club (TAC) Golf Classic! The event, which took place at Crystal Tree Country Club in Orland Park, Ill., brought in $85,000, with all proceeds directly supporting student scholarships.

“While the course and the weather were beautiful, it was the enthusiasm and generous support of the event sponsors and the golfers that made the day,” said Mark Hanna, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Athletics. “We so appreciate all of our sponsors and golfers for spending the day with us. Their support will help make the way for future student athletes to have the opportunity to study and compete at Trinity.”

Hanna was particularly excited to see the participants interact with the student athletes who were at the event. “We have an exceptional group of young people at Trinity,” he said.

According to Dennis Harms, Associate Vice President for Advancement, Crystal Tree offered a great risk/reward golf course for the 132 golfers at the event.  “Besides 18 holes of golf, the participants were treated to a fantastic lunch and dinner, Trinity athletic apparel as well as an opportunity to win some fantastic raffle prizes,” said Harms.

At the end of the day the low foursome consisted of Bob Schaaf, John Dieck, Dean VanderZee, and Chris VanTil.

The College is deeply appreciative for the support of our two event sponsors; Ozinga Bros Inc. and Providence Bank & Trust.

Click here to learn more about TAC and its support of our Troll athletes.

Returning from Exile

Jonathan Brooks on Moving Back to Chicago’s Englewood Neighborhood

Jonathan Brooks didn’t expect to work at a college, become a preacher, or move back to his old neighborhood of Englewood on Chicago’s South Side. In fact, he planned to be an architect and live just about anywhere besides Englewood.

“As I like to say, some are called, some are chosen, and some are forced,” said Brooks, who is the recruiter and mentor for Trinity’s five-year B.A./M.Div. program with Northern Seminary.  He also serves as senior pastor of Canaan Community Church in Englewood, and authored the recently published book “Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods.” “When comfort becomes our ultimate goal, God has to take drastic measures,” said Brooks, also known as Pastah J.

Brooks grew up in Englewood, and his first step away from the neighborhood was to attend college in Alabama, at Tuskegee University, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree. “It turns out, I enjoyed studying architecture more than being an architect,” he said. When his mother became ill, he returned to Englewood to take care of her. “She decided it would be good to get me back to the church. So, I began working with youth at Canaan Community Church. Eventually, the pastor there forced me to take over by leaving.”

With his return to Englewood, Brooks began to see his role like that of the Israelites in exile. He points to the words of Jeremiah 29: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (NIV)

Brooks realized he was being called not just to work in Englewood, but to make it his home once again. He now lives by his church with his wife Miche’al Newman-Brooks, an instructor with Windy City Harvest, and two daughters, Jasmine, a sophomore at King College Prep High School and Jade, who is 12 and attends Daystar School.

Since returning from Tuskegee, Brooks earned an M.A. in teaching from National Louis University and an M.Div. from Northern Seminary in Christian Community Development. Along with leading Canaan Community Church, he has also worked with the Chicago Public Schools and Mission Year.

Several years ago, Brooks began doing more public speaking around the idea that Christians need to be fully present in their local communities. Increasingly, he was told he should write a book. “I’m a duck in water when it comes to public speaking, but I’m less comfortable writing,” he said. Despite his concerns, in 2017, he signed a contract for “Church Forsaken,” which was published in November 2018. “It’s a mix of memoir, with theology and anecdotes. It’s the crazy narrative of my life!”

As he was preparing for the book’s publication, the opportunity to join Trinity as mentor and recruiter for the new five-year B.A./M.Div. program presented itself. Brooks had been teaching a course as an adjunct professor at Trinity’s partner program, Chicago Semester, on “Urban Planning, Development, and the Sustainable City.” “That class combines all my interests,” he said.

When Trinity Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., approached Chicago Semester’s Executive Director Mackenzi Huyser, Ph.D., for suggestions on filling the new position with the B.A./M.Div. program, Huyser recommended Brooks.

His work with the B.A./M.Div. program is a continuation of his passion to help young people connect with what is wrong in the world. “I tell them, you are not in a holding pattern, and you will always find an excuse to wait. We are like Israel in exile.”

This article originally appeared on pp 6-7 of the 2019 issue of Trinity magazine. Didn’t receive the latest copy? Let us know! You can update your contact information here.

The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, in residence at Trinity’s Ozinga Chapel Auditorium, has announced that single tickets are available for purchase for the 2019-20 season. Highlights of the season, the IPO’s 42nd, include Gershwin, Mahler, Williams, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and more!

Opening Night: Rhapsody in Blue, October 19, 2019 – 5:30 pm

Stilian Kirov, Conductor

Xiayin Wang, Piano

HORST (Composer-in-Residence) World Premiere

LEROY ANDERSON Piano Concerto

GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue

PISTON Symphony No. 6

Stilian Kirov Conducts Mahler, November 16, 2019 – 7:30 pm

Stilian Kirov, Conductor

Emily Birsan, Soprano

HORST (Composer-in-Residence) World Premiere

AUGUSTA READ THOMAS Absolute Ocean

MAHLER Symphony No. 4

Home for the Holidays, December 21, 2019 – 3:00 pm

Guest Conductor

Highlights include: John Williams Merry Christmas; Anderson Sleighride; Handel, Hallelujah Chorus; Merry Christmas; Tchaikovsky Suite from The Nutcracker; and many more!

All Tchaikovsky, February 8, 2020 – 7:30 pm

Stilian Kirov, Conductor

William Hagen, Violin

TCHAIKOVSKY “Dance of the Tumblers” from The Snow Maiden

TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 2

Beethoven @ 250, March 14, 2020 – 7:30 pm

Stilian Kirov, Conductor

Boris Allakhverdyan, Clarinet

SCHOENBERG Transfigured Night

MOZART Clarinet Concerto

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1

Firebird, April 18, 2020 – 7:30 pm

Lidiya Yankovskaya, Conductor

GRIEG Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King

SAINT-SAËNS Danse Macabre

MUSSORGSKY Night on Bald Mountain

BACH Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for Organ

STRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the IPO website.

Now entering its 42nd season, IPO is the largest performing arts organization in Chicago’s Southland providing professional orchestral music of beauty and excellence to the region. IPO’s repertoire ranges from Baroque and Classical masterpieces to world premieres and modern favorites.

Trinity is proud to announce that 83% of master’s degree graduates taking the Behavior Analyst Certification Board exam for the first time have passed, a nearly 20% increase over the average rate among other colleges and universities. Trinity’s scores also make it the second-highest ranked school in Illinois for first-time pass rates.

“At Trinity, we know that the world needs professionals who are skilled and compassionate in the field of applied behavior analysis,” said Marilyn Spalla, Assistant Professor of Special Education. “The exceptional success on the BACB exam demonstrates the level of commitment and preparation our graduates demonstrate.”

According to the BACB, an average of 65% of test-takers pass the exam on the first time.

Applied behavior analysis has been empirically shown to be effective in a wide variety of areas, including those with intellectual disabilities and autism, parent training, substance abuse treatment, dementia management, brain injury rehabilitation, and occupational safety intervention, among others. More than 36,000 behavior analysts and over 55,000 behavior technicians are certified in over 89 countries. BACB standards are the basis of almost all behavior analyst licensure laws in the United States

“Through applied behavior analysis, students can see situations from different perspectives and use those skills to help their students and clients,” said Dr. Sara Baillie, Associate Professor of Special Education and Director of Trinity’s Graduate Program in Special Education-Behavior Intervention Specialist. “We are proud of our graduates who have demonstrated their comprehension and understanding of these techniques and approaches.”

Trinity offers several programs for Master’s Degrees in Special Education including one that lead to a Behavior Intervention Specialist endorsement through Illinois State Board of Education as well as the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc® (BACB) verified course sequence which allows our students to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination® (BCBA). To learn more, click here.

Five Trolls received the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Award for their academic and athletic performances the last indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Caleb DeWeerd of the men’s team received the award, while Madelyn Clausen, Megan DeWeerd, Hope Fathman and Nicole Syverson received the award on the women’s side.

In order to receive this award, student-athletes must meet both academic and athletic requirements. On the academic side, they must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher. Athletically, they need to achieve an “A” or “B” standard in a championship event.

This past season, Caleb qualified for indoor nationals in the mile run while Clausen qualified for the high jump. In the outdoor event, Clausen qualified again for the high jump while DeWeerd, Syverson and Fathman qualified in the marathon.

Congratulations to the women’s volleyball team, led by Coach Bill Schepel, for being named to the 2018-19 American Volleyball Coaches Association Academic Team!

In order to receive this award, teams must maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA.

“This award honors teams who have matched their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom,” said Kathleen J. DeBoer, AVCA executive director, and Brad Wilson, AVCA manager of awards. “Meeting the award standards is an accomplishment of which [Trinity] can be very proud.”

Trinity’s women’s volleyball team excelled both on the court and in the classroom in 2018-19, as the women competed in the NAIA National Championships in Sioux City, Iowa.

This is the 18th time Trinity women’s volleyball team has received the award, and the fourth year in a row for this honor.