CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED TO DR. KYU YOUNG PARK ON HER RETIREMENT FROM NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.
WHEREAS, Dr. Kyu Young Park is retiring in June 2018, following more than forty years of dedicated and distinguished service in the field of education; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this special occasion by the Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman of the 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kyu Young Park earned her B.A. in French Language Education from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, and earned her M.Ed, in Curriculum and Instruction and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a specialization in Comparative International Education from Loyola University in 1995; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Dr. Park began her career as a Chicago Public Schools teacher at Budlong Elementary School. She was the first to introduce and teach the Korean language to middle school students as a foreign language. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, in the early 1980s Dr. Park introduced Korean Dance to the Chicago Public Schools and the entire Chicago metropolitan community; and
WHEREAS, Following her tenure at Chicago Public Schools, in 1999 Dr. Park accepted a position at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), serving as the Associate Director of the Office of International Programs, Director of Asian Programs, and Director of the Korean Institute. At NEIU, Dr. Park created the international partner university program and helped establish cultural and professor/student exchange programs, teaching abroad programs with Korean institutions of higher learning and a Korean Studies Minor program; and
WHEREAS, A valued leader, Dr. Kyu Young Park has earned the respect and admiration from those in the educational field as well as the Korean American community and is an inspiration to all who know her. Over the years, Dr. Park has been involved with and held various leadership positions in many cultural, social and civic organizations in the Chicago metropolitan area. She has received numerous honors and awards and has earned the respect of her colleagues, students, and co-workers; now therefore
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty third day of May 2018 do hereby honor and express our deepest appreciation for the vast accomplishments and dedicated service of Dr. Kyu Young Park as she retires from Northeastern Illinois University and we extend to her our very best wishes for continued happiness; and
Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Dr. Kyu Young Park.