Meet our Staff

Dennis Nolan
Chief of Public Safety

Chief Nolan joined Oakton's Police Department in 1996 -- and he's been instrumental in making many changes and upgrades to enhance security. Previously, Nolan was a Chicago police officer for nine years, and a Chicago and Northwestern Railroad police lieutenant and watch commander for almost 15 years. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Joan Nebel
Sergeant of Public Safety

Sergeant Nebel comes to Oakton with 20 years of law enforcement experience. A certified elderly service officer, licensed breathalyzer operator, and gang crime officer, she earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Lewis University, and a master of science degree in public safety administration from Lewis University. 

Charlene Kadlec
Public Safety Assistant

Kadlec joined Oakton in 1980, when the College was located in Morton Grove. She has been Public Safety administrative assistant since 2004, maintaining police records, supervising the police cadets, and serving as a telecommunicator. Previously, Kadlec worked with the MLT/PBT program and in the former Communications Division office.

Ken Griffin
Public Safety Officer

Officer Griffin, a past president of the International and Illinois Juvenile Officers Association, was with the McLean County, Illinois Sheriff's Department for four years and with the Champaign, Illinois Police Department for 24 years. He has been with Oakton since October 1995.

Dan Dominiak
Public Safety Officer

Officer Dominiak, who joined Oakton in 2006, has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience. He earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Morton College, and is currently pursing his bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Kaplan University. Dominiak began his career with the Village of Summit, Illinois and is still employed as a police officer there. He is a certified firearm, baton, and pepper spray instructor.

Jason Stanford
Public Safety Officer

Officer Stanford graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor of science degree in political science, and is currently pursing a master's degree in political and justice studies at Governors State University. He joined Oakton in 2007.

Gerald Modory
Public Safety Officer

Officer Modory, who retired from the Oak Park Police Department in 2004 after a 30-year career, joined Oakton in 2007. An experienced officer and supervisor with a wealth of police knowledge, he earned a bachelor's degree in administration of criminal justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Modory has a decade of experience successfully applying the "community-oriented policing" model to daily police work.

Ryan Kendricks
Public Safety Officer

Officer Kendricks graduated from ITT Technical Institute with an associate's degree in computer and electronic engineering. He has been with Oakton since 2006.

Paul Messina
Publc Safety Officer

Officer Messina, who joined Oakton in 2007, is a retired police officer from the Western Springs Police Department, where he served in the Patrol Division and Investigation Unit. He was also a Juvenile Officer and School Resource Officer. Messina graduated from Lewis University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Jin "Bobbie" Kang
Public Safety Officer

Officer Kang recently completed his associate's degree at Oakton. He previously served in the Public Safety Department as a cadet, and moved into his current position in 2008.

Timothy Podlin
Public Safety Officer

Officer Podlin cames to Oakton in 2011 with 25 years of law enforcement experience as an investigative specialist, crime analyst, records management systems administrator, and supervisor. He earned an associate of applied science degree in law enforcement at Oakton and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.