Understanding the nature, structure and processes of life itself is an incredible undertaking. By choosing to study biology at Oakton, you will have the opportunity to investigate the mysteries and processes of the living world.
This exciting field can lead you to a number of engaging and rewarding professions. Biology majors often work in medicine, zoology, biology, botany, education, environmental studies and more. Students in Oakton Biology classes also go into allied health career programs such as physical therapy assistant, medical lab assistant, nursing and health information technology.
As a biology major at Oakton, you're also choosing to get your start in biology with a close-knit and attentive faculty with decades of professional experience. Technologically advanced laboratories at both the Des Plaines and Skokie campuses further enrich the learning experience at Oakton.
You can gain experience outside of the classroom as well. Students who qualify often participate in an undergraduate research program to develop experience. We also offer opportunities to work as a lab assistant, take field study classes or an environmental sciences concentration, and participate in student groups focuses on topics like global health or sustainability.
Courses can lead to an associate degree in science or fulfill the requirements for such health career programs as health information technology, medical laboratory technology, nursing and physical therapist assistant.
Oakton offers an Associate in Science (A.S.) for students who wish to pursue a bachelor of science at a four-year college or university. We also offer a pre-major pathway for students interested in transferring to a school for a bachelor of arts degree in biology: Biology Pre-major for Associate in Arts.
Once you have selected your transfer school, consult the Office of Advising, Transitions and Student Success, as well as the transfer institution's catalog. This will help you select courses that will meet both Oakton's and your transfer school's requirements.
We recommend our Biology Pre-major for Associate in Science, which provides the smoothest transfer experience. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university.
This Pre-major is for students who are considering completing a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Biology after transferring to a four-year institution. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university.
Pre-majors are recommended for students planning to complete a Bachelor’s degree after transferring to a four-year institution and are designed for students who have not yet decided on a specific four-year college or university. Career options in this field reflect the salaries and opportunities available to students upon completing their Bachelor’s degree.
To see specific Transfer Path agreements that Oakton has made with partner universities, please see the Transfer Partnerships and Guides.
For additional support with transfer planning, including course selection and educational planning, please contact the office of Advising, Transitions, and Student Success. The Career & Transfer Center (CTC) offers additional resources for students preparing to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.
99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.
To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.
We offer payment options that give you control over how you pay. Pay all at once or spread your payments over the course of the semester.
Learn more about your options for paying for your education
Nicole Perry, Chair
Co-Chair, Biology
B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph. D. Northwestern University
nperry@oakton.edu
847.376.7086
Office: Room B229, Skokie
Kanchana Mendes, Coordinator, A&P
Co-Chair, Biology
M.M.S. Birla Institute of Technology & Science, India
M.S. Birla Institute of Technology & Science, India
Ph.D. Oklahoma State University
kmendes@oakton.edu
847.376.7184
Office: Room 111, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Paul Gulezian
Distinguished Professor of Biology
B.A. Dartmouth College
Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago
pgulezia@oakton.edu
847.376.7120
Office: Room 301, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Nizar Handzic
Professor of Biology
B.S. Northeastern Illinois University
Ph.D. Michigan State University
nhandzic@oakton.edu
847.376.7225
Office: Room 307, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Khursheed Ichhaporia
Associate Professor of Biology
M.B.A. University of Rochester
M.S. University of Southern Mississippi
kichhapo@oakton.edu
847.376.7197
Office: Room 304, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Tess Lesniak
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S. DePaul University
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
tlesniak@oakton.edu
847.376.7054
Office: Room 302, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Stephanie Levi Blumer
Associate Professor of Biology
B.A. Kenyon College
Ph.D. University of Chicago
sblumer@oakton.edu
847.376.7424
Office: Room 303, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Harper Mazock
Associate Professor of Biology
B.A. Ball State University
Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago
hmazock@oakton.edu
847.376.7045
Office: Room 305, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Kalpa Patel
Professor of Biology
B.S. Nagpur University, India
M.S. Nagpur University, India
Ph.D. Rush University, Biochemistry
kppatel@oakton.edu
847.376.7114
Office: Room 301, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Kritika Pershad
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S. Osmania University, India
M.S. Osmania University, India
PhD University of Illinois at Chicago
kpershad@oakton.edu
847.376.7074
Office: Room 306, Lee Center, Des Plaines
William Strond
Professor of Biology
B.A. Wilmington College
M.A. University of Nebraska at Omaha
bstrond@oakton.edu
847.376.7133
Office: Room 303, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Kristi Zenchak
Professor of Biology
B.S. North Central College
M.S., Loyola University - Chicago
zenchak@oakton.edu
847.635.1615
Office: Room 304, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Suzanne Ziegenhorn
Professor of Biology
B.S. Bradley University
M.S. Bradley University
Ph.D. Northwestern University
sziegenh@oakton.edu
847.376.7361
Office: Room 306, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Meet our part time faculty:
David Arieti
Lecturer
B.A. University of Denver
M.S. Long Island University
darieti@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Arti Ayachit
Lecturer
M.S. Institute of Science, Nugpur
aayachit@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Linnea Boyev
Lecturer
MD Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
lboyev@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Jonathan Chong
Lecturer
Ph.D. North Texas State University
jchong@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
May Coulson
Lecturer
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
mcoulson@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Offices: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Urbi Ghosh
Lecturer
M.B.A. Colorado State University
Ph.D. Colorado State University
ughosh@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Avis Gibons
Lecturer
B.A. Northwestern University
M.S. University of California, Irvine
agibons@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Michelle Groves
Lecturer
M.A. Roosevelt Univ
mgroves@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Morfenia Joseph
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
mjoseph@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Ali Khan
Lecturer
M.B.B.S. Doctor of Medicine
M. S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India
akhan@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Imran Khan
Lecturer
Ph.D., M.D.
Bachelor of Medicine
Bachelor of Surgery
ikhan@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Miriam Lythberg
Lecturer
B.A. Augustana College
M.S. University of Bridgeport
mlythber@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Ragy Mikhaeel
Lecturer
M.P.S. Cornell University
rmikhaee@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Jacob Nieva
Lecturer
Ph.D. University of Santo Tomas
jnieva@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Jude Nwosu
Lecturer
B.S. Washington State University
B.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S. University of Montana
Ph.D. Doctor of Medicine - Universidad Eugenio Maria De Hostos
jnwosu@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Mary Obernesser
Lecturer
B.S. Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN
M.S. DePaul University
mobernes@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Elaine Phillips
Lecturer
M.S. Northeastern Illinois University
phillips@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Nazia Sadat
Lecturer
B.S. Benedictine University
M.S. Benedictine University
nsadat@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Krzysztof Slowikowski
Lecturer
Ph.D. Medical Academy - Bialystok, Poland
kslowiko@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Jack Taha
Lecturer
Ph.D. Medicine - Medical Univ Bialystok, Poland
jtaha@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
James Thorson
Lecturer
B.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
jthorson@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
Samantha Wisniewski
Lecturer
Ph.D. National University of Health Sciences
swisniew@oakton.edu
847.635.1688
Office: Room 100, Lee Center, Des Plaines
