In today's fast-changing world, careers in science, technology, engineering, math and health care are hotter than ever. Whether you're interested in computers, manufacturing, electronics, or any of our degree and certificate programs, you'll expand your options and engage your talents.
Our programs run the gamut from manufacturing and nanotechnology to nursing and phlebotomy. Some programs lead directly to certificates and a quick entry into the workforce, while others provide excellent preparation for transferring to a four-year college.
Whichever program you choose, you'll work with dedicated teachers in facilities that offer the latest in technological advancement.
At Oakton, we offer a special Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program to prepare you for a career in a STEM field or to provide a springboard for transferring to a four-year college or university. Studying a STEM field such as biology, computer science, engineering or physics unlocks your potential to:
In our STEM program, you will have access to a variety of opportunities and resources as you delve into these important and interesting subjects. Our program has been cited by the New York Times as one of the top community college STEM programs in the country.
Furthermore, our Center for Promoting STEM is widely respected and was established in 2006 to increase the number of students who pursue studies and receive a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The goals of CP-STEM are:
So if you're looking to increase your knowledge and skill in the scientific fields and prepare for a rewarding career, Oakton's STEM program is for you!
For more information, please use our Prospective Student Information Request form. View the Oakton Health Career Information Session video library.
Oakton College’s STEM Scholars program and scholarship are designed for students with demonstrated financial need pursuing a degree or career in a STEM field, especially students of color, female and LGBTQIA students. STEM Scholars will engage in shared cohort course experiences and have the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research.
In addition to the STEM Scholars program, we offer a number of other opportunities for students.
You can enroll in special STEM200 courses that give you the chance to earn up to four credit hours of independent study in STEM topics. You'll be on a student team, guided by a faculty advisor, investigating a real-world project topic, enabling you to hone your collaboration, communication, decision making and research skills, as well as your creativity.
You can also participate in the Skyway STEM Poster Competition, get job experience and professional connections in an internship or explore special STEM opportunities at four-year institutions.
Department Chairs, Coordinators and Full-time Faculty
Chair – Jhosa Pagulayan, Professor, Basic Nurse Assistant Training
jpagulay@oakton.edu
Donna Dickson, Professor of Basic Nurse Assistant Training
ddickson@oakton.edu
Bincy Reginold, Distinguished Professor, Basic Nurse Assistant Training
breginold@oakton.edu
Sheila Zabin, Professor, Basic Nurse Assistant Training
szabin@oakton.edu
Chair – Nicole Perry, Professor of Biology
nperry@oakton.edu
Coordinator, A&P - Kanchana Mendes, Professor of Biology
kmendes@oakton.edu
Paul Gulezian, Professor of Biology
Co-coordinator, Environmental Science
pgulezia@oakton.edu
Stephanie Levi Blumer, Associate Professor of Biology
sblumer@oakton.edu
Nizar Handzic, Professor of Biology
nhandzic@oakton.edu
Khursheed Ichhaporia, Associate Professor of Biology
kichhapo@oakton.edu
Harper Mazock, Assistant Professor of Biology
hmazock@oakton.edu
Kalpa Patel, Professor of Biology
kppatel@oakton.edu
Kritika Pershad, Associate Professor of Biology
kpershad@oakton.edu
Bill Strond, Professor of Biology
bstrond@oakton.edu
Kristi Zenchak, Professor of Biology
zenchak@oakton.edu
Suzanne Ziegenhorn, Associate Professor of Biology
sziegenh@oakton.edu
Chair – Stephen Fix, Assistant Professor of Cannabis Studies
sfix@oakton.edu
(Cisco; Microsoft)
Chair — Reza Dai, Distinguished Professor, Electronics, Local Area Networks, and Mathematics
rdai@oakton.edu
Coordinator, Doris Gronseth, Distinguished Professor, Computer Technologies, Information Systems and Business
dgronset@oakton.edu
Coordinator, John Stryker, Distinguished Professor of Computer Technologies and Information Systems
jstryker@oakton.edu
Chair, John Stryker, Distinguished Professor of Computer Technologies and Information Systems
jstryker@oakton.edu
Co-coordinator, Ragaa Abdallah, Professor of Computer Technologies and Information Systems
rabdalla@oakton.edu
Coordinator, Doris Gronseth, Distinguished Professor, Computer Technologies, Information Systems and Business
dgronset@oakton.edu
Clarence Sistrunk, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems and Computer Networking and Systems
csistrun@oakton.edu
Coordinator, Ivan Temesvari, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
itemisva@oakton.edu
Chair — Majid Ghadiri, Distinguished Professor, Electronics/LAN
mghadiri@oakton.edu
Chair — Joe Kotowski, Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Design and Mathematics
koto@oakton.edu
Jeff Cabay, Instructor, Engineering
jcabay@oakton.edu
Chair – Hanna Wierzchowski, Professor of Health Information Technology
hwierzchowski@oakton.edu
Adriana Raicu, Assistant Professor of Health Information Technology
araicu@oakton.edu
Coordinator, Boguslaw Zapal, Associate Professor of Manufacturing
bzapal@oakton.edu
Chair — Jennifer Reeb, Distinguished Professor, Mathematics
jreeb@oakton.edu
Maria Antonopoulos, Associate Professor, Mathematics
mantonop@oakton.edu
Mario Borha, Associate Professor, Mathematics
mborha@oakton.edu
Olga Cedrina Associate Professor, Mathematics
ocedrina@oakton.edu
Michael Farquhar, Professor, Mathematics
mfarquha@oakton.edu
Safa Hamed, Professor, Mathematics
shamed@oakton.edu
Anna Hammer, Associate Professor of Mathematics
ahammer@oakton.edu
Ahyoung Kim, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
akim@oakton.edu
Matthew Lee, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
mlee@oakton.edu
Christopher Saunders, Associate Professor, Mathematics
csaunder@oakton.edu
Carole Shapero, Distinguished Professor, Mathematics
cshapero@oakton.edu
Bradley Young, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Co-coordinator, Honors
byoung@oakton.edu
Dorota Zak, Professor, Mathematics
dzak@oakton.edu
Chair — Joe Cirone, Distinguished Professor, Professor of CAD/Mechanical Design and Manufacturing
jcirone@oakton.edu
Coordinator, Boguslaw Zapal, Associate Professor, Manufacturing, Mechanical Design/CAD Programs
bzapal@oakton.edu
(includes Phlebotomy and Pharmacy Technician)
Chair – Lynne Steele, Professor of Medical Laboratory Technology
lynne@oakton.edu
Nancy Heldt, Professor of Medical Laboratory Technology
nheldt@oakton.edu
Coordinator, John Baliga, Adjunct Faculty
jbaliga@oakton.edu
Chair – Margaret Gas, Professor of Nursing
mgas@oakton.edu
Coordinator - Ciaran O'Sullivan, Professor of Nursing
cosulliv@oakton.edu
Dezrine Dunn, Assistant Professor of Nursing
ddunn@oakton.edu
Nefize Fejza, Instructor of Nursing
nfejza@oakton.edu
Carla Ferguson, Associate Professor of Nursing
cferguso@oakton.edu
Mary Kakenmaster, Distinguished Professor of Nursing
mkakenma@oakton.edu
Carrie Kelly, Professor of Nursing
ckelly@oakton.edu
Teresa Kirwan, Instructor of Nursing
tkirwan@oakton.edu
Antoinette Maglione, Associate Professor of Nursing
tsolans@oakton.edu
Leandro Resurreccion, Professor of Nursing
lresurre@oakton.edu
Debbie Schiltz, Associate Professor of Nursing
dschiltz@oakton.edu
Winnie Sitt, Professor of Nursing
wsitt@oakton.edu
Deborah Wyeth, Assistant Professor of Basic Nurse Assistant Training
dwyeth@oakton.edu
Chair – Michael Graves, Professor of Physical Education
mgraves@oakton.edu
Chair – Chad Landrie, Professor of Chemistry
clandrie@oakton.edu
John Carzoli, Distinguished Professor of Physics
jcarzoli@oakton.edu
Theodore Gotis, Professor of Physics
tgotis@oakton.edu
Elizabeth Kershisnik, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
ekershis@oakton.edu
Gary Mines, Professor of Chemistry
gmines@oakton.edu
Zoran Miodragovic, Professor of Chemistry
zmidrag@oakton.edu
Melodie Graber, Professor of Chemistry
mgraber@oakton.edu
Valeria Benson-Lira, Assistant Professor of Physical Science
vbensonlira@oakton.edu
Abigail Garcia, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Assistant
abgarcia@oakton.edu
Melissa Mendoza, Professor of Physical Therapist Assistant
mmendoza@oakton.edu
Mary Ann Nedorost, Professor of Physical Therapist Assistant
mnedoros@oakton.edu
The Stem Scholars Advisory Committee meets each semester to assess progress, make suggestions for improvements, and assist in on-going, formative evaluation. The composition of the advisory committee includes individuals of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and academic disciplines, reflecting the goals of STEM Scholars.
Michele Brown
Director, Student Recruitment and Outreach
Oakton College
John Carzoli, Ph.D.
Professor, Physics
Oakton College
Reza Dai
Chair, Computer Networking & Systems; Professor, Electronics, Local Area Networks & Mathematics
Oakton College
Majid Ghadiri
Chair, Electronics & Computer Technologies; Professor, Mathematics & Technologies
Oakton College
Al Grippe
Director of Grants Strategy and Development
Oakton College
Krissie Harris
Manager of Student Life and Campus Inclusion, Lecturer
Oakton College
Tess Lesniak
Instructor, Biology
Oakton College
Shannon McKenzie
Internship Specialist
Oakton College
Gary Mines, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry
Oakton College
Juletta Patrick
Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs/Dean of Access, Equity and Diversity
Oakton College
Bob Sompolski, Ph.D.
Dean of STEM and Health Careers
Oakton College
Ella Whitehead
Manager, Career and Transfer Center
Oakton College
Greg Beitel, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Molecular Bioscience
Northwestern University
Ami LeFevre
Director of Science
Niles West High School
Jeff Rylander
Instructional Supervisor for Science
Glenbrook South High School
Rebecca Stewart
District CTE Department Chair
Maine Township District 207
Michelle Vasquez
Post-secondary Counselor
Evanston Township High School
David Wartowski
STEM Director
District 69
Dianna Yu
Director of Science
Niles North High School
Joe Kotowski
Director, Center for Promoting STEM
Professor, Mechanical Design & Mathematics
847.635.1268
koto@oakton.edu
Room B231, Skokie
Gloria Liu
Coordinator & Co-Director, Center for Promoting STEM
847.635.1924
glorial@oakton.edu
Room 2158, Des Plaines
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The Center for Promoting STEM (CP-STEM) welcomes the involvement, support, and sponsorship of corporations interested in the College's mission and strategic goals (PDF) (8 MB).
If you are interested in having your business or organization get involved in our STEM program, please visit the STEM And Outside Organizations page.