STRIDES is made up of seven core members: five voting board members and two additional team members. In addition to our interns and professional volunteers, the STRIDES team works together to fundraise, advocate, and provide opportunities to IDD programs across Texas.
Interested in joining the team? Check out our open positions or internship programs.
Board of Directors
Emerson Lout, Chairman and Founder
Throughout my life, I’ve had the pleasure of working with individuals with disabilities in school, extracurricular activities and simply in the community. Whether it was working at the Special Olympics, or working with students in school, I’ve never ceased to be amazed by the pure compassion and joy emanated by these individuals. At Texas A&M University, I found that we offered some fantastic educational programs for individuals with IDD, but due to the tremendous costs of attending a postsecondary institution, many students were unable to attend. Programs like the Aggie ACHIEVE and PATHS Certificate programs provide a unique opportunity for individuals with IDD to receive an education, learn to live independently and pursue a career they are passionate about. They give the students a chance to experience all of the exciting parts of life that many of us take for granted. Therefore, we decided that we would do whatever it took to make these programs more accessible and alleviate the financial burden of an education for these students. In the spring of 2019, with the help of a great group of friends and colleagues, we were able to start STRIDES.
Email: emerson@letsmakestrides.com
Eva Lout, Vice Chairwoman and Director of Operations
Although I grew up surrounded by and involved with the disability community through school extracurriculars and volunteering with Special Olympics, I was naive to the multitude of limits that many individuals with disabilities face as they reach adulthood and beyond. Upon learning about STRIDES and joining the team in 2019, I was quickly made aware of how difficult life following post-secondary education can be for students with IDD, but also how programs like PATHS and Aggie ACHIEVE provide a great space for students with IDD to learn skills for living and working independently. It is important to me that opportunities for advancement are afforded to every person, including opportunities for support and financial aid to pursue additional education or experience. Since joining STRIDES, I have filled a variety of different roles within the team to ensure that we are constantly supporting students in their pursuit of higher education and growing in pursuit of creating a more inclusive and equitable society. I am proud of what we have achieved so far and excited to see how we grow in the coming years.
Email: evalout@letsmakestrides.com
Zachary Skrehot, Director of Internal Development
Finding fulfillment through everyday activities, relationship building, and an engaging workplace are things that all people deserve an opportunity to do. Self-actualization looks different in every individual’s life, and college plays a large role in that journey for some. I am passionate about the work STRIDES does because they lessen the financial burdens and make college more accessible for incredible students who want nothing more than to develop themselves through fantastic programs like Aggie ACHIEVE and PATHS. I am thankful to be joining the STRIDES board after serving as the Director of Corporate Outreach. Nothing has been more rewarding than getting to send award letters to the deserving applicants who will be enrolling at A&M; I am excited to see the impact this organization has within the IDD community in years to come.
Email: zacharyskrehot@letsmakestrides.com
Anna Fedewa, Director of External Development
I first found my connection to the disability community through friendship. In elementary school I began to develop close friendships with my peers with disabilities and I often reflect fondly on many of the typical elementary memories that I got to share with them – field day, recess, PE, and so much more. As I grew up however, I began to realize that my friends with disabilities had increasingly less access to the same opportunities that I had. This became the most evident when I began applying for college and began to realize that there were almost no post-secondary educational opportunities for my friends who wanted to live independently, attend college classes, and have the college experience just like everyone else. That is why I believe so strongly in the PATHS and Aggie ACHIEVE program and the mission of STRIDES. Everyone deserves to be able to work hard and attend college if that is their desire. Everyone deserves to have a community and to feel valued, seen, and appreciated. I am proud to be both an Aggie and a member of the STRIDES board and I cannot wait to see how many doors are opened for students with disabilities on this campus and beyond!
Email: annafedewa@letsmakestrides.com
Jamie Berthold, Director of Engagement
I discovered my passion for serving the disability community in high school through a friendship that opened my eyes to the lack of access and opportunities many people with disabilities face. That experience inspired me to be part of the change.
I earned my degree in Special Education and spent four years teaching before becoming the Program Manager for Aggie ACHIEVE at Texas A&M. In both roles, I saw firsthand how much work is still needed to make college truly accessible.
Now, with a master’s degree in Special Education and a full-time role as a Digital Promotions Manager, I’m excited to bring together my passions and skills. As Director of Engagement for STRIDES, I’m committed to raising awareness, building meaningful connections, and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities.
Email: jamieberthold@letsmakestrides.com
Additional STRIDES Team Members
Jim Lout, Secretary and Executive Advisor
Having close friends who have children with disabilities, I have learned about the day-to-day struggles they can face and the hopes and dreams they have for their children to become successful, thriving adults. Universities have stepped up to help families meet this challenge by developing higher education programs for students with disabilities. However, the financial burden associated with higher education can limit many from participating. STRIDES is trying to help remove that limitation. When my son brought this idea to me, I was proud that he wanted to commit his time and resources to individuals who needed help. However, I was hesitant because I knew how difficult his journey would be. Of course, I wanted to support him wholeheartedly, and it made it more special when my daughter joined him as a founding officer. I am now even more sold on this great organization after witnessing the heart and effort this entire group of young people are putting into STRIDES. They are working hard to make a long-standing source of assistance that will not only help students at their university, but also pioneer new programs at other universities. My role is to serve as an advisor to the STRIDES team, using my management and board experience. I am so proud of the countless hours they have invested to help change the future for so many college students.
Email: jimlout@letsmakestrides.com
John Fredian, Treasurer
Through personal connections with the founder of STRIDES, I learned about the lack of resources and financial aid available for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) pursuing postsecondary education. More importantly, I discovered how I could contribute to making a meaningful difference in their lives. As an Aggie, I hold a strong belief in serving others. By engaging directly with students on campus, I saw firsthand how each scholarship and support program impacted them in unique and powerful ways. In my role as Treasurer of STRIDES, I draw on my education in quantitative finance and experience in the workforce to ensure that our funds are allocated and documented effectively—maximizing the support we can provide to students and strengthening the foundation of STRIDES.
Alumni
Wesley Thompson, Vice Chairman 2019-2025
Before helping found STRIDES, I was insulated in my experience with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I knew very few individuals and their pursuit of post-secondary education was not an issue that was on the forefront of my mind. However, after investigating the challenges faced by students at Texas A&M and at other universities across the country, I realized how difficult the process truly is and became exceedingly invested in working to change that. During my time with STRIDES I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with fantastic people, both inside and outside our organization, that inspire me in my work on a daily basis. Additionally, developing personal relationships with students in the PATHS and ACHIEVE program has provided validation for STRIDES’ endeavors and goes to show just how incredible the students we are working to assist truly are. I am very proud of STRIDES’ impact up to date but know that it pales in comparison to what we will achieve in the future. I cannot wait to see what that will look like.
