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 disorers. 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 20 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 our new Assistant Director. Ms. Speros brings over 15 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in medical and educational settings. Her work in neurorehabilitation culminated in healthcare leadership roles that included process and program management, client and family education, collaboration with staff and other stakeholders, 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 of and self-awareness, 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, potential barriers to those goals, and recommendations for how to proceed. Ms. Speros brings her background in theatre and a keen understanding of people and their motivations to her work.
Graduate Assistants
Elizabeth Meyer, M.S.
STEP Graduate Assistant
Email: egmeyer@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1341
Elizabeth is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences where she is working towards her master's degree in the field of speech-language pathology. The primary focus of Elizabeth's academic studies is on children with Autism, providing intervention in language, AAC, social-communication skills, and executive functions. Elizabeth also attended EIU for her undergraduate degree, where she earned bachelor's degrees in both Communication Disorders & Sciences and Spanish and Hispanic Studies. Elizabeth served as a Peer Mentor for the STEP program for three years, during which time she got to know many of our students in her role of providing study table guidance, social event engagement, and individual relationship building. Elizabeth worked in the STEP office during the Fall of her senior year, where she assisted in reviewing students' learning profiles through analysis of IEP documents and neuropsychological evaluations. Elizabeth completed her senior year at EIU studying abroad in Costa Rica, finishing her Spanish studies and preparing for future work as a bilingual SLP. In her free time Elizabeth enjoys taking walks, watching her favorite shows, reading, spending time with friends, and playing with her cat, Willow. Elizabeth looks forward to providing individualized coaching structure for our students this coming year as a Graduate Assistant.
Tristan Munroe, B.S.
STEP Graduate Assistant
Email: tjmunroe@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1341
Tristan is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences where she is pursuing her master's degree in the field of speech-language pathology. Tristan's background includes credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant, a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders & Sciences, and a minor in psychology emphasizing development and disorders of the adolescent and young adult. During her time as an undergraduate student at EIU, Tristan was a key member of the Women's Volleyball Club where she functioned in a team leadership position developing drills, strategies, and mentoring younger players. Tristan also served for two years as a Peer Mentor with STEP and the EIU Best Buddies program. Tristan is looking forward to seeing returning STEP students and meeting new ones in her work as a STEP Graduate Assistant. She enjoys working with students on a personal level to support them in their efforts to balance the demands of college and student life. When not in class or at work, Tristan enjoys reading, going to coffee shops, binge-watching TV shows, and spending time with friends and family.
Maddie Russel, B.S.
STEP Graduate Assistant
Email: mrussel@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm Hall, Rm 1341
Maddie is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, pursuing an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, earning a B.S. in Speech & Hearing Science with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology. She also completed double minors in Disability Studies and Child Health and Wellbeing. During her undergraduate years, Maddie interned at The Autism Program (TAP), where she helped design low-tech AAC devices, connected with local service providers, sat in on new diagnosis orientations, supported children on the autism spectrum at the University’s preschool, and worked towards obtaining her Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification. Additionally, Maddie was actively involved in her school’s Best Buddies program and other pre-professional and community service organizations. Maddie looks forward to partnering with STEP for the first time as a graduate assistant and learning about the EIU campus life alongside the incoming students. She looks forward to supporting our students and building meaningful connections with them. With a specialized interest in neurodiversity, she sees this as an opportunity to deepen her understanding of diverse populations. Maddie aims to use this knowledge to propel her career in supporting and advocating for neurodiverse individuals. During her free time, Maddie enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors—hiking, walking, running, and pickleball, to name a few!
Rec & Leisure Facilitator
Lila Lowell
Email: ljlowell@eiu.edu
STEP provides coordinated efforts to assist students in identifying and participating in activities of their choosing to enhance well-being and provide balance to the college experience. Lila Lowell is our Rec & Leisure Facilitator this year. Lila is an undergraduate in Communication Disorders & Sciences minoring in Psychology while working towards her 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 trained last Fall with our Rec & Leisure Intern and is excited to assume this role for the next few years at Eastern. 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.
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.
