Jill Fahy, Director
Jill Fahy, M.A., CCC-SLP
Professor, Dept. of Communication Disorders & Sciences
Director, STEP
Co-Director, The Autism Center
Phone: 217-581-6361
Email: jkfahy@eiu.edu
STEP Email: step@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1309
Jill Fahy joined STEP as the Director in 2020. She is a nationally recognized expert in executive dysfunction and brings 32 years of experience working with adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder, language/learning disorders, AD/HD, brain injury, stroke, and a wide array of comorbid mental health disorders. Ms. Fahy's clinical work emphasizes skill and strategy building and self-regulation to assist individuals in achieving their highest potential for academic, vocational, and communication demands. Although she is also a professor in the Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences at EIU, where she has been for the past 21 years, her full-time work is with STEP. In the earlier part of her career Ms. Fahy was a medical speech-language pathologist working with stroke and brain injury populations in neurorehabilitation programs, targeting their efforts to return to the highest levels of independent living and work possible. Ms. Fahy is the co-author of two books on the development of executive functions, and has published a number of articles on the assessment and treatment of executive dysfunction in adolescents and young adults. She is a dynamic, award-winning teacher and enthusiastic coach, dedicated to helping students achieve their highest potential.
Rebecca Speros, Assistant Director
Rebecca Speros, M.S., CCC-SLP
Assistant Director, STEP
Phone: 217-581-1174
Email: rlsperos@eiu.edu
STEP Email: step@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1311
Rebecca Speros joined STEP in the fall of 2024 as the Assistant Director. Ms. Speros has over 15 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in medical and university settings. Her work in neurorehabilitation culminated in healthcare leadership roles that included process and program management, client and family education, collaboration with staff, and direct clinical service delivery. Ms. Speros is well-versed in the challenges of executive dysfunction and the role that brain development plays in support and self-awareness of social cognition, and self-directed strategy use. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and experienced clinical educator who works to help individuals identify achievable goals and potential barriers, while providing recommendations for success. Ms. Speros provides clinical and educational services to our STEP students by leading various skill-building groups designed to foster continued development of executive function skills, effective and strategic communication, as well as the development of life and work routines, goals and planning. Along with her B.S. and M.S. in Communication Disorders and Sciences, Ms. Speros holds a B.A. in Theater. This unique blend of creativity and science combine to provide a well-balanced approach to skill-building with our students.
Graduate Assistants and Academic Coaches
Morgan Wilderman, B.S.
STEP Graduate Assistant, Academic Coach
Email: mwilderman@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1341
Morgan is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences where she is pursuing her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Morgan earned her B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science with a minor in Disability Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Morgan's interest in neurodiversity began during her undergraduate years when she interned with The Autism Program. She created custom low-tech AAC devices and social stories, observed diagnostic orientation meetings, supported children on the spectrum at the University 's preschool, and connected with local service providers. Additionally, Morgan learned various leadership and mentorship skills through executive leadership positions and volunteering with the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, 4-H House Cooperative Sorority, The Navigators campus ministry, and other campus and community organizations. Morgan is excited to collaborate with STEP students to help them reach their academic and personal goals. Providing resources and teaching strategies for students to improve their communication, executive functioning, and academic skills is what Morgan is most excited for about STEP, as well as her future career in speech-language pathology. In her free time, Morgan enjoys running, baking, hiking, and spending time with friends.
Hannah Hout, B.S.
STEP Graduate Assistant, Academic Coach
Email: mruhlhout@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1341
Hannah Hout is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences where she is pursuing a master's degree in the field of speech-language pathology. Hannah also completed her undergraduate studies at EIU, earning her B.S. in Communication Disorders and Sciences with a minor in Psychology. Hannah completed a undergraduate thesis differentiating auditory processing deficits from co-morbid diagnoses; her work was selected for presentation at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Pittsburgh, PA, in the Spring of 2025. Hannah also held leadership roles in the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA), the American Sign Language Club, and mentoring roles through college ministry organizations. Hannah served as a STEP peer mentor for two years, providing academic and social support through study tables, one-on-one interactions with her mentees, and social events. Hannah is also a certified nursing assistant with experience working in nursing home and assisted living settings. Her healthcare background sparked her interest in supporting adults with cognitive disorders as they work towards higher levels of self-direction and independence, and further inspired her to become a speech-language pathologist. Hannah is excited to provide one-on-one assistance to STEP students, particularly as they navigate the demands of balancing academics with adjustment to the campus environment. In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and listening to music.
Hannah Queener, B.S.
STEP Graduate Assistant, Academic Coach
Email: hjqueener@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1341
Hannah Queener is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences pursuing a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Hannah earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders and Sciences at Eastern Illinois University, where she completed a thesis examining the correlation between executive functions and social skills in college students with autism. Hannah's interest in supporting students achieve personal goals has extended to her work as a one-on-one support person to students with autism in summer camp experiences. She also served as a STEP Peer Mentor, during which time she had the opportunity to get to know several of our students and see first-hand the types of goals, needs, and concerns they arrived on campus with. Hannah enjoys facilitating student insight, helping them develop and improve executive function skills, and having the chance to observe their emerging independence and confidence navigating academic, social, and daily life challenges. In her free time Hannah enjoys hiking, reading, and crafting.
Administrative Support Assistant
Rebecca Feuerborn
Email: rjfeuerborn@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1301
Rebecca Feuerborn is an undergrad student double majoring in Special Education and Elementary Education. She previously served as a STEP Peer Mentor before transitioning to administrative support and schedule coordination for STEP Staff. Rebecca provides key support in Study Tables, helps track outcome data and application files, and provides day to day office assistance. Rebecca is currently the student representative for the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children, the president of Student Council for Exceptional Children, and a Freshman Connection mentor. She has a particular interest in transition needs of students looking at post-secondary education opportunities. Rebecca plans to teach in elementary grades for at least five years before returning to graduate school, with long-term plans to become a professor and researcher. In her free time Rebecca likes to read, watch movies, and go to campus events
Rec & Leisure Facilitator
Lila Lowell
Email: ljlowell@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, 1311B
Lila is an undergraduate in Communication Disorders & Sciences minoring in Psychology, working towards an eventual master's degree in speech-language pathology. Lila has extensive experience working with and alongside neurodiverse individuals. She was a peer mentor in high school, served as a long-time mentor for Penguin Project of McLean County, and has personal experience with family members with ASD. Lila particularly enjoys forming authentic connections with students and assisting them in the context of a therapeutic recreation framework. Lila facilitates student engagement in meaningful activities of their choosing. She helps students consider and identify barriers to social connections and derive satisfaction with their leisure goals. Lila is a member of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity, and EIU musical ensembles including Panther Marching Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. Lila also works as a face painter for a small business in Central Illinois, teaches tennis lessons in her hometown over the summers, and teaches elementary art classes at her local community college.
Organization & Planning Tutor
Paige Parmenter
Email: pparmenter@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, 1311B
Paige Parmenter provides one-on-one tutoring for students who need additional assistance with organization, prioritization, and planning for academic demands. Paige handles her role as a student organizational tutor in STEP along with her major coursework in Criminology and the demands of four minors: Pre-Law, Political Sciences, Sociology, and Event Management. Paige is also a mentor for Freshmen Connection, a Student Ambassador for the Sociology Anthropology Criminology Department, the Vice President of Phi Alpha Eta Honors Society, a program assistant for the University Board, and a member of Philosophy Club. Paige assists students in monitoring, tracking, updating, and prioritizing their academic and non-academic demands.
Peer Mentors
Mentors are sophomore-senior undergraduate student volunteers who apply to and are trained and guided by STEP to provide individual supports for students in STEP. Mentors are partnered with one student for the year and serve as a point of reference or contact for the student through weekly interactions and monthly social events. Mentors also assist with our early move-in and orientation events, offer guidance and support at weekly study tables, and serve as a general point of contact for our students. We typically have a team of 20-25 mentors each year who come to us from all over campus, but most often from the Departments of Communication Disorders & Sciences, Special Education, Psychology, Health Administration, Therpeutic Recreation, Kinesiology, and more. We welcome and encourage mentors from all departments on campus, as they bring diverse experiences and talents to our program.
