Professor and Administrative Director

Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati, 1998
M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, Miami University (Ohio), 1980
B.S., Speech and Hearing Therapy, Miami University (Ohio), 1979

Dr. Veale is Professor and founding Program Director of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She founded two other graduate programs at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois and Glendale, Arizona. She teaches courses in neuroscience, including human brain dissection; child language development and disorders; social communication disorders, including autism; motor speech disorders; and research methods. Her scholarship includes authorship of a variety of materials for the study of neuroscience and resource books for guiding intervention for children with autism and social communication disorder. Dr. Veale’s research involves evaluation of accessible methods for oral and written language sampling and analysis; evaluation of effective methods for improving written narration in adolescents with high functioning autism; and differential diagnosis of autism and related conditions. Dr. Veale is a Fellow of the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and a tenured member of the Lewis faculty.

Associate Professor and Assistant Graduate Program Director

Ph.D., Special Education, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1998
M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1992
B.S., Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1990

Dr. Szymanski is Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Lewis University. She teaches courses in language development and disorders, assessment of communication disorders, literacy, and professional ethics. Dr. Szymanski is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and has worked to create virtual clinical simulations for audiology and speech-language pathology students to obtain clinical knowledge and skill as part of graduate clinical training. Her primary areas of interest include language development and disorders, assessment and diagnosis of communication disorders, teens and young adults with significant communication disorders, social and functional communication, and the use of clinical simulation in graduate education in communication sciences and disorders. Dr. Szymanski’s scholarly work and research interests are in the areas of clinical simulation in graduate education, clinical education, and social communication skills and self-advocacy in teens and young adults with communication disorders. As a clinician, Dr. Szymanski has primarily provided speech and language services to teens and young adults with language learning disabilities, autism, cognitive impairment, syndromes/genetic disorders, and traumatic brain injury. She is a long-time member of and volunteer for the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is a Fellow of ISHA and has served the state of Illinois on the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology for the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Associate Professor

Ph.D., Health Sciences, Northern Illinois University, 2020
M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, Northeastern University, 1996
B.S., Speech and Hearing Science, Moorhead State University, 1994

Dr. Guernon is Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Lewis University and currently serves the Interim Associate Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She teaches courses in adult cognitive-communication disorders and facilitates student research capstone projects. She is interested in assessment and intervention for language and cognitive-communication disorders in adults with acquired neurologic disorders, specific assessment and measurement considerations in assessment requiring clinician reported ratings and the role of the caregiver in rehabilitation. As a clinician, Dr. Guernon has provided services to people with communication and swallowing disorders across the spectrum of healthcare including, acute trauma facilities, community hospitals, acute inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient and day rehabilitation and home health. She has extensive experience managing clinical trials involving treatment development for people with traumatic brain injuries. Her research focuses on developing effective treatments for acquired cognitive-communication disorders, and injury prevention in youth sports. Dr. Guernon is a tenured member of the Lewis faculty.

Assistant Professor of Practice
Coordinator of Clinical Education

M.S., Communication Disorders & Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, 1993
B.S., Speech Language Pathology & Audiology, Eastern Illinois University, 1991

Professor Basel is Assistant Professor of Practice in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She currently supervises graduate students in their clinical practicum sites at a local parochial school. She also serves as Coordinator of Clinical Education, providing supervision and guidance to SLP graduate students who are interning at clinical sites located in the Chicagoland area. Professor Basel instructs two graduate courses, including Autism and Social Communication Disorders and Complex Issues in Education. She serves as a faculty mentor for Lewis University’s NSSLHA chapter, providing direction, participation, and organization to the SLP student members. She has experience in a wide variety of work settings, including private practice, early intervention, acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, pediatric clinics, and schools. She has served as an autism consultant and district special education liaison. Professor Basel’s primary interests are in the areas of autism spectrum disorders, motor speech disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, and family education. She believes in the school-therapy-home connection and strives to educate the community regarding communication disorders. Professor Basel has developed a series of apps entitled, “Autism Language Learning” which strive to engage children while learning to use and understand auditory language. Professor Basel has earned several grants and awards during her time in the schools, including a “Children in Motion” mega-grant and STAR 105.5 “Teacher of the Month” recognition.

Assistant Professor of Practice and Undergraduate Program Director

M.S., Speech Language Pathology, St. Xavier University, 2004
B.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Purdue University, 2002

Professor Brkovic is Assistant Professor of Practice in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She currently supervises graduate students placed at A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative and teaches the graduate level course in Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Professor Brkovic also serves as program director for the undergraduate B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders program, advising Lewis students who hope to attend our graduate program in the future. As a clinician, she has experience working in many different settings, including early intervention, schools, private practice, and a neuropsychological diagnostic center. Her areas of clinical interest are autism spectrum disorder and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Assistant Professor of Practice

M.S., Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Western Illinois University, 2018
B.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western Illinois University, 2016

Professor Kappel is Assistant Professor of Practice in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She is a clinical educator for graduate students working with the school-age population in local school settings.  She also teaches the graduate pediatric feeding and dysphagia course.  As a clinician, Professor Kappel has worked in a variety of settings including an acute rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, private practice, and schools (preschool through high school). Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in clinical practice, higher education, and research. During her SLP journey, she has successfully treated a wide range of communication disorders, collaborated with interdisciplinary teams, and facilitated transformative learning opportunities for students. Her professional history includes evaluation and treatment of clients presenting motor speech disorders, aphasia, voice or fluency difficulties, and swallowing problems. Professor Kappel has had a passion for evidenced-based practice since her undergraduate years. She presented her thesis about the impact of conversational partners on children’s language growth at conferences of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Illinois Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA). As a former collegiate athlete, she is inspired to provide individuals with disabilities a way to participate in sports. Professor Kappel is the founder of CONNECKS, which connects collegiate student athletes from various sports with student athletes with disabilities. She enjoys working with people who have the heart, tenacity, and motivation to accomplish their goals, inside the therapy room and beyond. 

Professor of Practice

M.H.S., Communication Disorders, Governors State University, 2008  
B.H.S., Communication Disorders, Governors State University, 2004
B.A., Social Work, Lewis University, 1997

Professor Nootbaar is Assistant Professor of Practice and clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She is currently a clinical supervisor for graduate students in the Center for Interdisciplinary Telepractice (CIT) and at a local public school. As a speech-language pathologist, her clinical experiences have included public schools and cooperative therapeutic schools serving students that range from early childhood to transition services. Professor Nootbaar has also worked as a Mentor, Clinical Fellowship Supervisor and University Clinical Supervisor in her previous employment settings. She enjoys working to train and support speech language pathology students and Speech Language Pathologists in the public educational cooperative and university settings. As a clinician Professor Nootbaar has provided speech and language services in the areas of autism spectrum disorders, cognitive impairment, motor speech disorders, severe language impairment, speech sound production and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 

Assistant Professor of Practice

M.Ed., Speech-Language Pathology, Valdosta State University, 1998
B.S., Speech-Language Pathology, Valdosta State University, 1995

Professor Wheeler is Assistant Professor of Practice in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She is a clinical educator for graduate interns at a local school serving children with autism. As a clinician, Professor Wheeler has worked in a variety of settings, including schools (preschool through transition), skilled nursing facilities, and clinics. She has 25 years of experience working in Illinois and Georgia public and private schools with children ages 3-21. Her areas of professional expertise include working with people with autism, dyslexia, social communication disorder, learning disabilities, and phonological processing difficulties,  She is also passionate about assessment and intervention for people needing alternative communication modalities. Professor Wheeler has been active in the DuPage County Speech-Language-Hearing Association for many years and participates in local support group meetings of the National Stuttering Association.  She has extensive experience training school staff in the development of visual and social language supports for communication.

Assistant Professor of Practice
Coordinator of Clinical Education

Ed.S., Curriculum and Instruction, National-Louis University, 2022
M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, Northwestern University, 2006
B.A., Spanish, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1999

Professor Wu is Assistant Professor of Practice and Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She supervises graduate students offsite in a placement requiring service to a bilingual caseload.  Professor Wu has worked with bilingual clients throughout her career. She worked in school-based settings in urban, suburban, and rural communities for 17 years, including four years in teletherapy. In addition to school-based settings, Professor Wu has worked in a pediatric therapy clinic and early intervention. Her primary interests are bilingual language development, delays and disorders. She has earned ESL and bilingual endorsements to her Illinois State Board of Education Professional Educator’s License for speech-language pathology. Professor Wu founded Bilingual Speech Therapy Resources LLC, a private company dedicated to the creation of therapy materials.

Adjunct Professor

M.A., in Speech-Language Pathology, Northwestern University, 1979
B.S., in Speech-Language Pathology, Northwestern University, 1977

Professor Bucher is an adjunct professor and clinical educator in the Master of Science Program in Speech-Language Pathology at Lewis University. Professor Bucher developed and directs the SLP Specialty Clinic at Mayslake Village which provides introductory level instruction in evaluation, treatment planning, lesson administration and documentation for adults with a variety of speech, language, voice, AAC, and cognitive communication deficits. She also teaches the graduate course on Motor Speech Disorders. Professor Bucher has maintained ASHA CCC and Illinois state licensure by complying with continuing education requirements; she has earned six ACE Awards for Continuing Education from ASHA. Professor Bucher’s experience ranges from staff SLP, senior SLP, to program director. She has worked full-time and part-time with clients across the lifespan, from the patients in Neonatal ICU to Hospice. Work settings included a non-profit community clinic, hospital-based rehab clinic, SNFs, private practice with specialty in functional voice disorders, and most recently in both home health and hospital settings. Professor Bucher's primary focus has been on adults with a variety of neurological deficits including aphasia, dysarthria and apraxia, and voice disorders. She is certified in SPEAKOUT, a program for patients with Parkinson's Disease. Professor Bucher has worked with laryngectomees, helped coordinate the North Shore Lost Chords club, and participated in committees in the North Shore American Cancer Society. She is a past chairperson of the Association of Clinical Programs in Speech Pathology and Audiology, Chicago. IL.

Adjunct Professor

M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2004
B.S., Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2002

Professor Carroll is an adjunct professor and clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She is currently a clinical supervisor for graduate students in a public high school setting. As a speech-language pathologist, her clinical experiences have included private clinics, public schools, therapeutic schools, and early intervention.  Professor Carroll also evaluates speech-language, auditory processing and social communication skills for children ages 3-18 as part of an interdisciplinary neuropsychology team.  Professor Carroll's primary interests include autism spectrum disorders, early language development, and literacy development in children with language impairment.  

Adjunct Professor

Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Western Michigan University, 2018
M.S. Speech-Language Pathology, St. Xavier University, 2000
B.S. Biology, Loyola University, 1993

Dr. Carroll-Alfano is an adjunct professor in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at Lewis University.  She teaches the Dysphagia course.  Dr. Carroll-Alfano has worked in a variety of clinical settings including hospital, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, outpatient, and university clinic.  Her clinical interests include working with persons with motor speech disorders, cognitive communication disorders, aphasia, swallowing disorders, and head and neck cancer.  She hosts a monthly support group for persons with laryngectomy.

Adjunct Clinical Professor

M.A. Communication Disorders, Northern Illinois University, 2007
B.S. Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois-Champaign, 2005

Malini Claussen is an adjunct clinical educator in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She is currently a clinical supervisor for graduate students at Synapse House where graduate students learn how to evaluate and treat adults recovering from various forms of brain injury with speech, language, and cognitive communication impairments. She has spent most of her career working at a large level 1 trauma center and has found her passion working in the adult trauma ICU where she works with some of the most medically complex patients in the region. Her career also includes work in long term acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, independent/assisted living, home health, and subacute rehab. She has extensive experience mentoring graduate students in clinical practica and supervising clinical fellows. Professionally, she has presented at the International Neuropsychiatric Conference in Argentina on Executive Function Disorders Post Stroke. She has participated in the Think First program educating students on traumatic brain injury to increase awareness in the youth population and has facilitated aphasia support groups for patients and their families during their recovery process. She is excited to share her extensive knowledge with the Lewis graduate students! 

Adjunct Professor

Ph.D. Special Education, University of Illinois at Chicago (1997)
M.H.Sc. Communication Disorders, Governors State University (1984)
B.S. Speech-Language Pathology, Saint Xavier University (1982)

Dr. Czarnik is an adjunct professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She teaches courses in Fluency Disorders and Counseling, Research Methods, and co-teaches the Research Capstone course. She has worked in a variety of clinical and academic settings throughout her career, including public schools, private practice, and university settings. Her primary areas of interest are stuttering and fluency disorders across the lifespan, as well as speech sound disorders in children.  Dr. Czarnik facilitates an adult support group through the National Stuttering Association.

Adjunct Professor

M.S. Communicative Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1981
B.A. Speech Therapy, Augustana College, 1979

Cynthia (Cindy) Hildner is an adjunct professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She teaches graduate courses in Aphasia, Voice Disorders and Neuroscience for Speech-Language Pathologists. She has worked in a variety of clinical and academic settings throughout her career, including outpatient rehabilitation clinics, rehabilitation hospitals, academic medical school hospitals and university settings. Her primary areas of interest include neurologic language and speech disorders, voice disorders, and dysphagia.

Adjunct Professor

M.A., Speech Language Pathology, University of Northern Iowa, 2012
B.A., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Eastern Illinois University, 2010

Professor Reeter is an adjunct professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. He teaches an undergraduate courses in speech and hearing science, and co-teaches the graduate dysphagia course.  As a student, he served two terms as a regional counselor and one term as the national president of NSSLHA. As a clinician, Professor Reeter works at RML Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital specializing in complex medical care especially in the tracheostomy/ventilation population regarding disorders of communication and swallowing. His career also includes work in inpatient medical settings serving acute inpatient care, long-term inpatient care, and acute rehab. Professor Reeter has been mentoring SLP graduate students in practicum placements since 2015. Professionally, Professor Reeter has been active in local, state, and national (ISHA, ASHA, NSSLHA) organizations collaborating with SLP and AUD professionals. Along with teaching at Lewis, his endeavors include optimizing electronic medical records to clearly and succinctly report SLP findings to collaborate with other professionals, researching recoveries in critically ill patients following Covid-19 infection, and finding creative solutions for patients to communicate with limited mobility and respiratory functions.

Adjunct Clinical Educator

M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Northwestern University, 2001
B.S., Human Communication Sciences, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Northwestern University, 1999

Madonna S. Rheingans is an adjunct clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. As a practicing speech-language pathologist for over 23 years, her clinical experiences have included not-for-profit and holistic pediatric outpatient therapy clinics, as well as experience in the public elementary school setting serving children and students ranging from birth to early childhood to the teenage/high school population. Madonna has also worked as a mentor, clinical fellowship supervisor, and fieldwork supervisor, sharing her experiences and guidance with future SLPs-to-be. She is passionate about supporting speech-language pathology students and fellow SLPs. Madonna also currently works in a collaborative multidisciplinary clinic alongside therapy providers in PT, OT, nutrition, and ABA services to deliver quality services to the children served. As a clinician, Madonna has provided speech, language, and therapeutic feeding services to clients with autism, cognitive impairment, motor speech disorders, severe language impairment, speech sound disorders and stuttering.  She has expertise in augmentative and alternative communication, infant feeding challenges, sensory-feeding disorders, and has led life skills peer groups.  Prof. Rheingans is excited to share all of this and more with the Lewis SLP students.

Adjunct Professor/Clinical Educator

M.H.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Governors State University, 1982
M.A., Educational Leadership, Governors State University, 2000

Professor Ryan is an adjunct professor and clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University.  She currently supervises graduate students in a therapeutic public school center.  Her background includes delivering services in public and private schools for students ages 3-22, and with geriatric patients in home health, acute and sub-acute rehabilitation settings.  Additionally, she has 20 years of administrative experience as a speech-language and assistive technology coordinator, and as an administrator in special education.  After retiring, she returned to a high school setting and provided direct and consultative services, determining eligibility for special education services as a multidisciplinary team member.  Professor Ryan's professional interests include pragmatic and social language in the school-age population.

Adjunct Professor

M.S., Speech-Language Pathology, Marquette University, 1990
B.A. Communicative Disorders, Valparaiso University, 1988

Professor Stoffel is an adjunct professor and clinical educator in the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program at Lewis University. She is currently a clinical supervisor for graduate students at Synapse House where first-year graduate students are introduced to evaluation, treatment planning and execution of therapy for adults with a wide variety of speech, language, voice, AAC and cognitive communication deficits. She developed and directs the Specialty clinic at Naperville Senior Center whose members provide entry level graduate students opportunity and experience working with adults with varying neurological and cognitive-communication difficulties. As a speech-language pathologist, her clinical experience focused on adult evaluation and treatment in acute hospital inpatient, acute rehabilitation, day treatment, outpatient, long term acute care, skilled nursing, and home health settings. She has successfully supported many CFY students, taught basic sign language to hospital staff towards successful communication with deaf individuals, is a licensed SPEAK OUT! provider, and served as an invited guest speaker at various organizations in support of senior services. Areas of clinical interest include dysphagia evaluation and treatment, neurological disorders, and traumatic and acquired disorders of the head and neck. 

SLP Clinic Director & Adjunct Professor

M.F.A., English, New Mexico State University, 2013
B.A., English, California State University Sacramento, 2010

Professor Deibel is the SLP Clinic Director and an Adjunct Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at Lewis University. She teaches and/or facilitates courses in phonetics and facilitates praxis review workshops. Her primary areas of interest include English communication as well as online education and management in both academic and technical fields. She has also worked at Lewis University as an editor on curriculum certification in addition to assisting with LMS technology, such as course design and Blackboard. Her background includes being a university instructor in remote, hybrid, and on-campus classrooms in the West and Southwest. As a writing center consultant and English Professor, she has experience with discourse communities and working with ELL students.

Adjunct Professor

Doctoral Candidate, Health Sciences, Liberty University, 2024
M.Ed. Higher Education; Educational Leadership, Liberty University, 2021
B.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders; Audiology, Illinois State University, 2012

Professor Frazier is an adjunct professor in the undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Lewis University. He teaches the Introduction to Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation courses. He serves on the board of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission as a Commissioner within his second appointed term. He also serves as co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and the Student Involvement Committee within the Illinois Speech and Hearing Association. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors as the Audiology Chair for the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing. As a hearing health practitioner for nearly 12 years, he has performed hearing evaluations for many patients; from birth to 105 years old! He is licensed to practice as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin and furthermore, a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist. He has received advanced training to perform the Auditory Brainstem Response test for newborns. His scientific research encompasses Aphasia, Neurology, Hearing Aids, Psychoacoustics, Hearing Science, Speech, and Aural Rehabilitation. 

Adjunct Professor

M.A., Speech Language Pathology, University of Northern Iowa, 2012
B.A., Communication Sciences and Disorders, Eastern Illinois University, 2010

Professor Reeter is an adjunct professor in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Lewis University. He teaches an undergraduate courses in speech and hearing science, and co-teaches the graduate dysphagia course.  As a student, he served two terms as a regional counselor and one term as the national president of NSSLHA. As a clinician, Professor Reeter works at RML Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital specializing in complex medical care especially in the tracheostomy/ventilation population regarding disorders of communication and swallowing. His career also includes work in inpatient medical settings serving acute inpatient care, long-term inpatient care, and acute rehab. Professor Reeter has been mentoring SLP graduate students in practicum placements since 2015. Professionally, Professor Reeter has been active in local, state, and national (ISHA, ASHA, NSSLHA) organizations collaborating with SLP and AUD professionals. Along with teaching at Lewis, his endeavors include optimizing electronic medical records to clearly and succinctly report SLP findings to collaborate with other professionals, researching recoveries in critically ill patients following Covid-19 infection, and finding creative solutions for patients to communicate with limited mobility and respiratory functions.

SLP Clinic Director & Adjunct Professor

M.F.A., English, New Mexico State University, 2013
B.A., English, California State University Sacramento, 2010

Professor Deibel is the SLP Clinic Director and an Adjunct Professor in the Speech-Language Pathology Program at Lewis University. She teaches and/or facilitates courses in phonetics and facilitates praxis review workshops. Her primary areas of interest include English communication as well as online education and management in both academic and technical fields. She has also worked at Lewis University as an editor on curriculum certification in addition to assisting with LMS technology, such as course design and Blackboard. Her background includes being a university instructor in remote, hybrid, and on-campus classrooms in the West and Southwest. As a writing center consultant and English Professor, she has experience with discourse communities and working with ELL students.

Administrative Assistant

B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, Eastern Illinois University, 2020

Priscilla is the Administrative Assistant in the Speech-Language Pathology program. Priscilla served several roles at a near-by school district including District Translator for families that communicated with ASL and Spanish as their primary languages before joining Lewis University. She worked extensively with transitioning families from Early Intervention into the public school district. Prior to this, Priscilla served as an interpreter for a local county as well as for business insurance groups.