Oakton College

Congratulations to Oakton film instructor Michael Glover Smith on the release of his newest feature film, “Hekla”!

Written, directed and produced by Smith, “Hekla” follows a young Chicago actress as she navigates auditions, relationships and self-doubt while searching for her voice. Set and filmed entirely in Chicago, the film celebrates the city's vibrant arts community and the resilience of creative professionals.

Critic Richard Roeper called “Hekla” a "real Chicago gem"!

🎥 Upcoming screenings include the Wilmette Theatre on July 14 and the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove on July 27. https://bit.ly/4e07HTh

Oakton continues to strengthen its commitment to community engagement by supporting organizations serving our communities. College representatives recently joined community and business leaders at the Evanston Community Foundation Celebrate Evanston event, which highlights initiatives that promote leadership, collaboration and inclusion.

Oakton also sponsored the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston annual Gala in the Garden, supporting programs that benefit children and families. The event recognized Evanston GROWS for its efforts to address food insecurity. Honorees included adjunct faculty member Linnea Latimer, who serves on Evanston Grow's board of directors.

Commencement is always a special night, and this year was no exception. It’s the kind of pride you can feel through a screen.

🎥 Watch the recap and relive the celebration with us: https://bit.ly/49oKtU4

Congratulations to all our !

Commencement 2026 | Oakton College Commencement is always a special night, and this year was no except...

More than five decades after a group of determined community leaders helped bring Oakton College to life, their legacy is now on display through a permanent campus tribute. During a dedication ceremony, Oakton unveiled its new Founders’ Wall, honoring the 49 visionaries whose belief in accessible, high-quality education has created opportunities for generations of students.

“Today, we honor the individuals who believed deeply in the power of education and created opportunities that continue to transform lives more than five decades later,” said Oakton President Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D. “The Founders’ Wall ensures their vision and legacy will continue to inspire future generations and serve as a catalyst for building just and thriving communities.” https://bit.ly/433iMwr

Diplomas in hand, dreams on deck: Congratulations to the Class of 2026 🎓 🎉

We celebrated some of the most hardworking, inspiring people we know at the 2026 Oakton College Commencement. You showed up, you did the work and you made it happen. We are so incredibly proud of you.

Stanford is the dream. Oakton rewrote the story. Meet Adedunni Dayo-Kayode: CS student, AI ethics researcher, hackathon founder, Oakton tennis player...and so much more. His journey is proof that the unexpected path can lead somewhere incredible. And if you think his story is inspiring, just wait until you hear him speak as one of our 2026 Commencement speakers. Read Dunni's full story at the link below.

Adedunni Dayo-Kayode Rewriting the Code

La historia de Sol Lara refleja resiliencia, organización y una actitud positiva ante los desafíos. Sol dice: “Hay que comenzar las veces que sean necesarias… rendirse no puede ser una opción.”

🔗 Para leer la historia completa, entra a https://bit.ly/4nkCUDs.

Sol's story reflects perseverance, lifelong learning and the power of starting again. She emphasizes the importance of starting over as many times as needed because giving up is not an option.

🔗 Read the full story https://bit.ly/4nqaub9.

Yesterday, the Research Innovation and Creative Engagement Center (RICE) hosted their 2026 Spring Symposium: “Mindset Matters: Critical Thinkers, Creative Scholars, Innovative Tools.”

The Spring 2026 Cohort of RICE Student Fellows presented their faculty-mentored research and creative projects, with keynote remarks delivered by Dean of the Library Jacob Jeremiah.

"When you become an expert in research you realize that research is never truly finished," said Jeremiah. "Indeed, it is an ongoing global conversation that has been happening for centuries. Completing this fellowship represents a profound shift. By engaging in an iterative process of research as inquiry you have moved from merely being on the receiving end of the information ecosystem to someone who is doing the heavy but truly rewarding work of creating new knowledge."

Congratulations to this semester's student presenters:
• Fatima Abdelrahim, "Pain Dismissal Among Black Women in Healthcare Settings"
• Kisa Fatima, "Faith in the Face of Adversity"
• Sophia Naco, "A Kantian Philosophical Defense of Immigration Rights"

Housed within Oakton's Division of Liberal Arts, the RICE Center empowers students, particularly those from historically underrepresented groups in research, to become critical thinkers, innovators and leaders in their fields. These fellows are a testament to that mission.

“Neurodiversity is an asset, not only in the classroom, but in the workforce, and our role is to ensure students are empowered and prepared to succeed,” said Mark Kiel, Oakton’s dean of Counseling, Health and Wellness Services.

During Neurodiversity Celebration Month, April, Oakton welcomed nationally recognized expert Maureen Dunne, Ph.D., for impactful conversations on supporting neurodiverse students and building inclusive workplaces.

We’re also proud to share that Oakton received the 2026 Davos Neurodiversity Summit Community College Leadership Impact Award recognizing our commitment to creating environments where every learner can thrive. https://bit.ly/4tEZfxQ

We want to hear from you: What does Oakton’s impact mean to you? The Illinois Community College Board Economic Impact Study shows Oakton’s value in dollars and cents. These big numbers reflect a real economic boost for our community: higher-paying jobs for grads, a talented local workforce for employers, and accessible paths to long-term success. How does Oakton's impact show up in the lives of our students, alumni and community? Share your story in the comments.