Meet Our Clinicians
Avanti Bhatia
Clinical Supervisor for Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Childhood language disorders
- Pediatric aural rehabilitation
- Early Intervention
Undergraduate Education: Northwestern University
Graduate Education: Purdue University
Languages: English, Hindi
Joined NIU: 2022
Danica Billingsly, Au.D.
Clinical Associate Professor in Audiology
Areas of Interest:
- Tinnitus evaluation and treatment
- Hearing through life transitions (adolescent/adult)
- Bilingualism
- Amplification/hearing aids and hearing assistive technology outcomes
Undergraduate Education: Western Illinois University
Graduate Education:
- Western Illinois University
- Salus University
Languages: English, Spanish (conversational), ASL (rudimentary)
Joined NIU: October 2014
Mariah Cheyney
Clinical Associate Professor in Audiology
Areas of Interest:
- Infant electrophysiology and diagnostic testing
- Advanced middle ear assessment
- Cochlear implant and osseointegrated implant programming
- Rehabilitation for children with hearing loss
Undergraduate Education: Ohio State University
Graduate Education: University of Pittsburgh
Kortney Flowers, M.A., CCC-SLP/L
Clinical Supervisor for Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Language disorders
- Literacy skills
- Speech sound disorders
- Stuttering
Undergraduate Education: Elmhurst College
Graduate Education: Northern Illinois University
Language: English
Joined NIU: 2022
Allison Gladfelter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Co-director of the NIU Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy, Founder of the NIU Autism Caregiver Group
Areas of Interest:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Word-learning/language acquisition
- Language and motor interactions
Undergraduate Education:
Augustana College, Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish
Graduate Education:
- Ph.D., Purdue University, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
- M.S., Purdue University, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Language: English
Joined NIU: 2014
Courses Taught:
- AHCD 494: Autism Services
- COMD 221: Phonetics and Phonology
- COMD 305: Language Development
- COMD 603: Communication Disorders in Early Childhood
- COMD 618: Autism and Social Communication Disorders
Certification:
- Hanen More Than Words Certification
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Clinical Certification
Licensure:
- State of Illinois, Speech-Language Pathology License
- State of Indiana, Speech-Language Pathology License
Blythe Kitner
Clinical Assistant Professor in Audiology
Areas of Interest:
- Electrophysiology
- Balance
- Pediatric and adult hearing evaluations and treatment
- Concussion assessment
- Tinnitus
Undergraduate Education: Millikin University
Graduate Education: Rush University
Ellen Henning, M.A., CCC-SLP/L
Clinical Supervisor for Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Preschool and elementary school-age populations
- Literacy (shared reading, phonological awareness, children's literature)
- Speech sound disorders
- Language disorders
Undergraduate Education: Augustana College
Graduate Education: Miami University of Ohio
Language: English
Joined NIU: 2022
Debbie McGee
Clinical Assistant Professor in Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Early intervention
- Pediatrics
Undergraduate Education: Northern Illinois University
Graduate Education: Northern Illinois University
Languages: English
Joined NIU: February 2013
Megan McKenna, M.A., CCC-SLP/L, CAS
SLP Clinical Coordinator
Clinical Assistant Professor of Speech-Language Pathology
She / Her / Hers
Areas of Interest:
- Pediatric populations (Early Intervention, preschool, school-age)
- Prelinguistic and early language development
- Autism spectrum disorder diagnostics and treatment
- Parent coaching, counseling and family advocacy
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Education: Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Joined NIU: 2023
Anna Mitchell-Cannone, M.A., CCC-SLP/L
Clinical Assistant Professor in Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Augmentative and alternative communication
- Hippotherapy
- Culturally and linguistically diverse populations
- Language development
- Advocacy
- Pediatrics
Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Education: Northern Illinois University
Languages: English, Spanish (conversational)
Joined NIU: August 2021
Sarah O'Connor
Clinical Assistant Professor in Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest: Augmentative and alternative communication
Undergraduate Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate Education: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Language: English
Joined NIU: 2014
Janet Olson, Ph.D.
Professor in Speech-Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Early intervention
- Hearing impairment in children
- Family-based treatment
Graduate Education:
- Northern Illinois University
- University of Illinois
Jamela Robson, M.A., CCC-SLP
Clinical Supervisor in Speech Language Pathology
Areas of Interest:
- Autism
- Language processing
- Early literacy
- Social/pragmatic communication
- Complex learning profiles
- Education advocacy
Undergraduate Education: Northern Illinois University
Graduate Education: Northwestern University
Language: English
Joined NIU: 2022
Diane ScheckLong, Au.D., CCC-A
Assistant Clinical Professor in Audiology
Areas of Interest:
- Hearing assessment of all ages, with a particular interest in the geriatric population
- Aural rehabilitation, including amplification, assistive technology and counseling
- Community outreach
Undergraduate Education: DePaul University
Graduate Education:
- Northwestern University
- AT Still University
Languages: English, German
Joined NIU: 2005
Courses Taught:
- COMD 300 – Introduction to Audiology
Kim Wedoff, M.S., CCC-SLP
Director of Clinic Finance and Operations; Speech Language Pathologist
Areas of Interest:
- Early intervention
- Pediatrics
- Language development
- Articulation and phonological disorders
Undergraduate Education: Eastern Illinois University
Graduate Education: Nova Southeastern University, M.S. Speech Language Pathology
Language: English
Joined NIU: 2016-2020; 2022
Schedule an Appointment
Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
815-753-1481
Fax: 815-753-1664
slhc@niu.edu
3100 Sycamore Road
DeKalb, IL 60115
