INFORMATION FOR
Every month during the academic year, we will spotlight a different member of the WP faculty or staff who plays a powerful role in student success.
Name: Eileen A. Fasanella, MA, CCC-SLP
Title: Director of Clinical Education, Speech Language Pathology
Years at WP: 8.5
Tell us about yourself: I have been married for 36 years and I am the mom of two strong and beautiful daughters, a great son-in-law, and “Mimi” to two amazing grandsons! I am passionate about connecting with others and enjoying all that life has to offer. I love beach vacations, trying new restaurants, pickleball, long walks, shopping, reading a great book and spending time with family and friends.
Describe your role on campus: As the Director of Clinical Education in Speech Language Pathology, I oversee the operation of our state-of the-art Speech and Hearing Clinic on campus. This includes working directly with our students and managing the client base so that our students receive the proper experiences to be successful at externship placements and in their career.
The clients in our clinic come from area towns, seeking speech therapy for communication delays or disorders. Clients range in age from 18 months to 88 years young, and they see us for issues tied to autism, voice disorders, traumatic brain injury, dementia, accent modification, gender affirming voice therapy, and more.
I also work closely with our full-time externship coordinator to ensure student success beyond our on-campus clinic. Providing every student with a varied clinical experience that prepares them for the future is a part of my role that I take great pride in. When they graduate from our program, I want others to note what strong SLPs and professionals they are!
A defining moment at WP: A defining moment for me is made up of multiple moments.
Watching a student create a book club for individuals who lost their reading ability due to stroke, and seeing that student complete a novel with one client, brought me an unbelievable feeling of accomplishment.
Having a client who attends gender affirming voice therapy describe the feeling that their life is no longer in danger when they go out in public.
Speaking with a parent of a graduate at Commencement and having them thank me for helping their student to succeed: It doesn’t get much better than that.
These are just some of the multiple moments that make me truly proud of the work I do as a contributor of change here at WP.
Favorite part about your job: I love interacting with our students and helping them develop a passion for the field of Speech Language Pathology. I feel fortunate to be in this field for over 35 years and still wake up excited about what I do.
I especially enjoy the group activities and partnerships that help us bring our work as SLPs to even more members of the Wayne-area community. Through our partnership with Wayne Public Schools, for example, young adults with special needs visit our program twice per week with a focus on enriching their social interactions. We also have a brand-new Pioneer Pals social group that meets on Monday evenings to help differently-abled individuals find positive and fulfilling social relationships and experiences. The student clinicians involved in these programs gain incredible experience and clinical skills. It is truly a win-win for the community and our students.
