Meet Our Program Directors
Meet our Program Directors
Dave Grassi, Director of Paralegal Studies
Mr. Grassi is an educator, attorney, and arbitrator. He earned an undergraduate degree in American History at the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts degree at DePaul University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Ohio Northern University. He has been practicing law for 25 years and is licensed in Michigan and Illinois. In addition to teaching a significant number of courses within the Paralegal and Criminal Justice Programs, he is an Arbitrator with the Cook County Arbitration Board, a trainer at Cook County Court Appointed Special Advocates Program, and was the former chief counsel for Paladin Health Care Consultants, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Bradley P. Wooten, Director of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Bradley P. Wooten joins Generations College as Director of the Business Administration and Entrepreneurship programs, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education, along with a strong background in corporate management and federal consulting.
Throughout his career, Dr. Wooten has served in senior academic leadership roles at multiple community colleges, including Dean and Associate Dean positions overseeing business, career, and workforce development programs. His work has focused on strengthening student success, advancing applied and workforce-aligned curricula, building employer partnerships, and leading faculty and staff in complex academic environments.
In addition to higher education, Dr. Wooten brings valuable industry and public-sector experience. He has held leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies and has worked extensively with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Defense, providing leadership development, coaching, and organizational learning support to federal employees and managers nationwide.
Dr. Wooten holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augustana College.
He is married with three adult children and enjoys spending time outdoors, including fishing, hunting, biking, and running.
Joe Simpson, Director of Criminal Justice
With 28 years of distinguished service with the Chicago Police Department, Joseph Simpson has built a career defined by leadership, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to public service. He has risen through the ranks and currently serves as a Lieutenant of Police. Throughout a wide range of assignments, he has demonstrated expertise in law enforcement operations while dedicating significant time to training, mentoring, and developing the next generation of police officers. His passion for professional development extends beyond the department into higher education, where he has taught criminal justice and related disciplines at both the college and university levels, sharing practical experience and academic insight with aspiring criminal justice
professionals. He holds a Master of Arts in Criminology from the University of Illinois at
Chicago and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Tiffin University, reflecting his lifelong commitment to learning and advancing the profession.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is a devoted husband and proud father of two boys. He values family, service, and education, bringing those principles to every aspect of his life and career. Whether mentoring future law enforcement leaders in the classroom, guiding officers in the field, or supporting his family at home, he remains committed to making a positive impact on his community. When he is not working or teaching, he can often be found cheering on his beloved Chicago Cubs, proudly embracing the highs and lows that come with being a lifelong, die-hard fan.
Karen Sole, Director of Court REporting
Karen brings more than 30 years’ experience in court reporter education and has trained and educated Realtime Reporting students in both an online and brick-and-mortar setting. Her experience includes curriculum development, staffing, and faculty training in the area of realtime reporting. She has successfully shaped academic programs to meet evolving industry standards. Her background also includes a successful career as both a freelance reporter and nine years as principal stenographer for a county prosecutor’s office, reporting verbatim testimony in criminal investigations. Committed to professional excellence, she also serves as an NCRA Certification Exam Grader, evaluating and grading NCRA exams for RPR, RMR, CRR, and CBC certifications.