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Denis Berkson, Chair Professor Denis R. Berkson, otherwise known as Chicago's Creative Crusader, chairs the Department of Performing Arts and also teaches speech and theater classes. The author of The Different Drummer Handbook, he has earned a national reputation for his creative consulting assignments with Hallmark Cards, Kraft Foods, Nordstrom, Northwestern University, and Vassar College. He is the recipient of numerous honors including The Illinois Community College Trustees Faculty Award; the Teaching Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff Organizational Excellence (two times); and the Ray Hartstein Award for Teaching Excellence at Oakton Community College. He earned a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin and an M.A. from Pennsylvania State University.
Kathleen Carot Kathleen Carot, professor of humanities, speech, and theater, also coordinates Oakton’s Women’s Studies Program. Her directing career encompasses more than 30 academic and professional productions, including the North American premiere of Vida Ognenovic’s Mileva Einstein and the inaugural performances of Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues at Oakton Community College and Northeastern’s production of David Barr’s A Red Death, presented as part of the University’s participation in Chicago’s city-wide “Uncommon Detectives” festival. Before beginning her teaching career, Carot worked extensively as a professional performer and director in both theater and opera in New York City and in Chicago. She holds an M.A. and B.A. in opera performance from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, and a B.S. in theater from Northwestern University. She currently is pursuing a second master’s degree in Women’s Studies from Roosevelt University.
Frank J. Del Giudice (speech; theater) A speech and theater instructor for more than 20 years, Frank Del Giudice began teaching at Oakton in 1997. A veteran of the theater, Del Giudice has performed in numerous productions in the Chicago area and also has been a member of the Actors’ Equity Association for more than 30 years. He holds a master’s degree in directing from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in theater from Illinois State University. When not teaching or working in theater, Del Giudice coaches Little League and youth football teams.
Laurie Dobosz (speech) Laurie Dobosz began as an Effective Speaking instructor at Oakton in 2002. Prior to Oakton, she was a speech communications instructor at College of DuPage. Most of her work experience has centered in the corporate world. Dobosz spent 11 years working in public relations for AT&T and Lucent Technologies, where she held management positions in media relations and marketing communications. Dobosz holds a master’s degree in communications from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Illinois State University.
Chris Gulinski (speech) Chris Gulinski teaches introductory speech courses at Oakton. His professional broadcast career accomplishments in the Chicago metropolitan area include serving as general manager for a Polish radio station and the host and producer of brokerage radio programs. He also was the associate producer of a weekly public affairs television program that featured local personalities, places, and events. Gulinski earned both his master’s degree and his bachelor’s degree in speech from Marquette University, where he taught undergraduate introductory speech, radio broadcasting, and television courses as a graduate teaching assistant. He also teaches introductory speech at Triton College and is the manager of group tour development at Action Tours in Lincolnshire.
Robert M. Gynn (speech and English) Robert Gynn has been a member of Oakton’s Speech, English, and ESL faculty since 2001. He has served in a variety of capacities in the academic world, including high school teacher, test development specialist, college instructor, curriculum developer, and associate dean. His business world experience includes working within the areas of investment research, business publishing, and consulting. Gynn also has taught at the College of Lake County, Harold Washington College, Robert Morris College, and the Career Education Corporation. He holds a master’s degree in education from Beloit College; a master of science degree in communication from Northwestern University; and bachelor’s degrees in English and history from DePauw University. Gynn currently is pursuing his certified financial planner designation at Northwestern University.
Patti Interrante (speech; theater) A graduate of Oakton, Patti Interrante, has been a member of the College’s faculty since 1992. She teaches numerous speech and theater courses, including Effective Speaking, Fundamentals of Acting, Intermediate Acting, Topics in Theater, Oral Interpretation, Voice and Diction, and Interact, which synthesizes the theories of personal growth psychology with fundamental acting and improvisational techniques. She also is a member of Association of Theater in Higher Education (ATHE), the Illinois Theater Association (ITA), and the National Communication Association (NCA). In addition to teaching, Interrante performs in and directs College productions. She also is the coordinator of the studio theater and hosts Backstage Pass, an introduction to Oakton’s theater program for high school students. Interrante holds a master’s degree in communications from Northeastern Illinois University and a master’s degree from the Professional Actor’s Training Program at Ohio University. She received her bachelor’s degree in theater from Loyola University.
Margaret Knapp (speech) Margaret Knapp began teaching Effective Speech at Oakton in 2007. She also has taught at Northern Illinois University, Harold Washington College, and Kendall College. In addition to teaching, Knapp is a professional actor, director, and a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. She received her master’s degree in acting and directing from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Chikako McLean (speech) An ESL coordinator for Oakton’s speech department, Chikako McLean provides support for non-native students enrolled in public speaking course. McLean’s passion to serve the culturally diverse student body at Oakton led her to create the ESL programs within the speech department. Her instruction and research focuses on cross-cultural communication, nonverbal communication, development of communication skills of non-native students, health communication, and general communication theory applications. Prior to her arrival at Oakton, McLean was an interpreter of Japanese and English languages for senior executives, scientists, and physicians in the medical and pharmaceutical industries in Japan. She also developed various programs to assist Japanese business professionals and their families achieve smooth cultural transitions to the United States. McLean received her master’s in speech communications from Northeastern Illinois University and her bachelor’s degree in speech from Roosevelt University.
Thomas Rapp (speech) Thomas Rapp has been teaching speech courses at Oakton since 2001. He also is the coordinator of SpeakEasy, the speech department’s workshop for students seeking assistance in preparing and practicing oral presentations. Rapp also worked as an instructor at Roosevelt University’s College of Education and has taught math and science at the high school and junior high level. He served as a grammar school principal for two years and was a high school assistant principal for five years. Rapp holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Dominican University, a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Loyola University, and an associate’s degree in speech from El Camino College.
Mary Ringstad (speech; theater) A frequent director for the Oakton Performing Arts Center, Mary Ringstad has been teaching courses in public speaking and acting at Oakton since 2002. Additionally, Ringstad has taught courses in play production, voice and articulation, and public speaking at Wilbur Wright City College, where she received the 2005 Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. Ringstad also has been an instructor at the Chicago-based company, Success Training in Vocal Expression, where she taught communication seminars throughout the country for GTE, Cincinnati Bell, Ameritech, US West, Southern New England Telephone, and other clients. A professional actor since 1984, Ringstad is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, a founding member of the Shakespeare Project of Chicago, and a vocal and drama instructor at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. She earned her master’s degree in acting from Ohio University, and bachelor’s degrees in theatre arts and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Toni Rowitz (speech; theater) Toni Rowitz has been an instructor at Oakton since the College opened in 1970. She teaches a variety of courses, including Introduction to Communications, Effective Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communications Across Cultures, and Introduction to Poetry. In addition to teaching, Rowitz is an avid performer and has taken the stage in many College and local productions. She also is a deputy registrar and judges the Annual American Legion Oratorical Contest at Niles East High School. Rowitz earned a master’s degree in audiology and a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. |
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