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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.
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.
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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