Oakton College

06/03/2026

Check out our faculty fit check! 🎓✨ Proudly representing the schools where they earned their education and the journeys that shaped them.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month! Oakton is a place where everyone belongs, and we proudly celebrate and support our LGBTQ+ community. Tap the link in our story to explore the LGBTQ+ community and resources at Oakton.

05/29/2026

Here’s to the friends and family who were along for the ride 🎓💚

05/28/2026

As a Paramedic for the Chicago Fire Department, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program alum Sheza Admani’s job looks a little different than what you see on TV. She’s pulling 24-hour shifts, driving an ambulance through the city and treating whatever Chicago throws at her. 🚑

Start your EMS journey at oakton.edu.

05/28/2026

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 is always a special night, and this year was no except...

05/27/2026

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

05/21/2026

OOTD: Graduation Edition

Featuring fits that are years in the making.

05/19/2026

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.

05/16/2026

Wrapping up Spring 2026 🎉
Celebrating every challenge, milestone and memory made this semester ✨

05/15/2026

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.

Rewriting the Code

05/14/2026

Oakton alum Djurdjina Bojic knew she wanted to be a police officer since the first grade and she never looked back. Now serving Chicago’s District 011, she shows up for her community every day, one cup of coffee at a time. To all who serve our community, happy National Police Week.

Follow your calling and learn more about Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice at oakton.edu.

05/13/2026

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.

05/12/2026

Did you make it to the Asian Night Market? Incredible food, cultural performances and handmade crafts made for an unforgettable night. Big thanks to and the Center for Organizing Minority Programs to Advance Student Success (COMPASS) for bringing this to life 🙌

05/08/2026

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Oakton College offers no-cost, confidential business advising to Illinois entrepreneurs at every stage.

This Small Business Week, the SBDC brought together entrepreneurs, local partners, and business leaders for a day of connection, 1:1 advising, and real resources.

Small businesses are the backbone of our community and we're here to help them thrive.

05/08/2026

Our students have been putting in the work this finals season, earning a well-deserved break 🐶

Therapy dogs from stopped by campus as part of Oakton’s Stress Reliever Days, brought to you by Campus Activities Board and Counseling Services. Meet Honey, a Bernese mountain dog who specializes in belly rubs, sitting on your feet and making everything feel a little better.

Taking care of yourself is part of succeeding. Find health and wellness resources at oakton.edu.

05/06/2026

Join our student interviewer Oliver and Oakton alum Ryan in celebrating National Nurses Week! 🩺

Ryan Lewandowski, Oakton Class of 2013, grew up with two nurses as parents. Now, he’s a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) jamming out to EDM in the OR. Ryan brings his whole heart, and his dad’s scrub cap, to every shift as a CRNA Manager and Assistant Director for Endeavor Health’s School of Nurse Anesthesia. That’s not a career, that’s a calling.

Take your first step into healthcare at oakton.edu.

05/06/2026

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.

05/04/2026

Founded to promote bird conservation, Bird Day celebrates birds of all kinds across North America. With hundreds of migratory songbirds (and one very busy owl) passing through our Des Plaines campus every year, we take birding very seriously 🦉

05/01/2026

We asked. They answered. What are YOU excited about? Drop it in the comments 👇

04/30/2026

“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

04/29/2026

Grab your popcorn, the movie is about to start 🍿 

We’re celebrating with some main character energy. Ready to jump in on the action? Register for fall classes at oakton.edu/register 

AI used for voice narration only.

04/29/2026

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.

04/28/2026

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Gear up, Oakton! Only 3 Fridays left until commencement ⌛

04/27/2026

We’re digging into the numbers of the Illinois Community College Board Economic Impact Study. Hear from President Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., about the big ways Oakton contributes to the regional economy as an employer and educator: $500 million+ generated for the local economy annually, with a huge return on investment for our students and local taxpayers.

04/24/2026

We didn’t just plant roots in a community, we planted them in a forest 🌳 Happy Arbor Day from our Des Plaines campus, home to hundreds of planted trees and 50 restored acres of woodland.