Oakton President to Join National Webinar Series on Rebuilding the American Dream

Oakton President Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., is one of the 12 ZogoTech’s Rebuilding the American Dream webinar series panelists.

Des Plaines, Ill. (August 27, 2025) — Oakton President Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., will be a featured panelist in ZogoTech’s Rebuilding the American Dream webinar series. Free and open to the public, the series brings together community college leaders from across the country who are working to restore economic and social mobility through education.

Research from Opportunity Insights shows that only half of today’s young adults earn more than their parents—down sharply from more than 90% for those born in 1940. Community colleges play a critical role in reversing this trend by providing affordable, career-aligned education, connecting students to in-demand jobs, and ensuring pathways to family-sustaining wages.

“Oakton is the community’s college — we connect residents to opportunity with the goal of building just and thriving communities,” said Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., Oakton College president. “I am honored to join this important conversation alongside colleagues from across the country who share this mission.”

Webinar series schedule

  • Earning Enrollment: Community Colleges as the Smartest Path to Mobility
    Sept. 9, 11 a.m. - noon 
  • Momentum to Mobility: Rethinking Student Progression for Today’s Learners
    Oct. 7, 11 a.m. - noon
  • Completion with Purpose: Ensuring Value-Added Credentials Lead to Family-Sustaining Wages
    Nov. 5, 2-3 p.m.
  • From Data to Action: Building the Infrastructure for Student and Institutional ROI
    Dec. 2, 11 a.m. - noon

In addition to President Smith, panelists include

  • Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State Community College president
  • Kimberly Beatty, Metropolitan Community College–Kansas City, chancellor and CEO
  • Pam Eddinger, Bunker Hill Community College president
  • Jacquelyn Elliott, Central Arizona College president
  • John Enamait, Stanly Community College president
  • Lane Glenn, Northern Essex Community College president
  • Vern Lindquist, Johnston Community College president
  • Jeremy McMillen, Grayson College president
  • Char Perlas, College of the Siskiyous president
  • Gregory Williams, Odessa College president
  • Ding-Jo Currie, Community College Think Tank Strategic Solutions executive director
ZogoTech is a data analytics provider that partners with institutions to deliver actionable insights across the entire student experience – from registration through graduation or transfer. The Rebuilding the American Dream webinar series is free and open to the public. Reserve your spot