Jill Fahy, Director
Jill Fahy, M.A.+30, CCC-SLP
Associate Professor
Phone: 217-581-6361
Email: jkfahy@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm 1311
Jill Fahy joined STEP as the Director in 2020. She is a nationally recognized author and expert in executive function disorders and adolescent language with over 30 years of experience working with individuals with diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder, language/learning disorders, AD/HD, executive dysfuncction, and cognitive-communication 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 an associate professor in the Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences at EIU, where she has been for the past 17 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 rehabilitation programs, targeting their efforts to return to the highest levels of independent living and work possible.
Beth Harvey, Program Services Specialist
Beth Harvey, M.S., CCC-SLP
Phone: 217-581-5815
Email: bharvey@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm 1331
Beth Harvey, a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and Program Services Specialist for STEP, brings more than 20 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist serving individuals ages 3 - 21 with autism and other types of language/learning disorders. Her background with school based services includes navigating IEP and 504 conferences, coordinating and negotiating needs with other professionals, and working with parents to achieve optimal outcomes for students. Mrs. Harvey recently earned her CASDCS (Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist) Certification. At STEP Mrs. Harvey provides programming to foster students' social communication, strategic and self-directed use of executive functions, academic problem solving abilities, and transition skills for the workplace. Mrs. Harvey acts as a liaison for the program with faculty and others on campus, does outreach to high school and community based entities, and supports the admissions process with campus visits and record reviews.
Graduate Assistants
Mary Kate Drufke, B.S.
Email: medrufke@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm 1341
Mary Kate Drufke is a first-year graduate student in the Communication Disorders and Sciences department and has joined STEP as a graduate assistant. Mary Kate loves to read, spend time with friends and family, and go on walks with her dog. She also loves to play music and has recently been teaching herself how to play guitar. Mary Kate is excited to be a STEP GA this year and looks forward to working with everyone!
Emmy Flessas, B.S.
Email: egflessas@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm 1341
Emmy is a Graduate Assistant in the STEP program as a first-year graduate student in the Communication Disorders and Sciences department. Emmy received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi and is from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She enjoys going on walks, drinking coffee, spending time with friends and family and listening to audiobooks. When home, Emmy babysits often as she has a great passion for working with kids. Emmy is very excited to be a STEP GA, get to know everyone involved with the program, and learn a ton alongside them.
Jacinda Floyd, B.S.
Email: jjfloyd@eiu.edu
Office: Klehm 1341
Jacinda is a Graduate Assistant for the STEP program as a first-year graduate student in the Communication Disorders and Sciences department. She is the oldest of three siblings and has twin brothers. Jacinda adores her cat, named Bean and enjoys reading, spending time with family, binge-watching TV/movies in her free time. One of her absolute favorite activities is going to concerts.
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 Communication Disorders & Sciences, Special Education, and Kinesiology departments. We welcome and encourage mentors from all departments on campus, as they bring diverse experiences and talents to our program.
