Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, has announced the addition of eight women faculty members in its College of Arts and Sciences.
Kristina Bowdrie is an assistant professor of communication studies in the department of psychological sciences. Her research explores the complex interactions between individuals with hearing loss and their environments. Dr. Bowdrie earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and psychology from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D. in speech and hearing science from Ohio State University, where she also served as a graduate research associate.
R. Elizabeth Capps is an assistant professor of psychological sciences. Her research interests center on improving outcomes for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Capps is a graduate of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Ohio University in Athens.
Krista Freeman has been appointed an assistant professor of physics. She studies the biophysics of bacteriophages — viruses that infect bacteria. Dr. Freeman received her bachelor’s degree in physics, with a minor in mathematics at Cleveland State University. She earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in physics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, before serving as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Pittsburgh.
Yuan Gao is an assistant professor of history. An environmental historian, she is writing a book entitled Tigers and Locusts: Environmental Changes in Late Qing Xinjiang. Dr. Gao received her bachelor’s degree in Russian literature from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, before completing a master’s degree in Eurasian studies at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. She received her Ph.D. in East and Central Asian history from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and served as a postdoctoral associate at Yale University.
Hayley Jannielli is an assistant professor of voice and acting in the department of theater. She was the head of Voice & Speech for CAP21, the bachelor of fine arts musical theatre program at Molloy University in Rockville Center, New York. She trains voice students to speak with more embodiment, resonance, and connection. Janniellli holds a bachelor’s degree in drama and a master of fine arts degree in acting from the University of California, Irvine.
Rita Obeid is an assistant professor of psychological sciences. She was a visiting associate professor at Lehman College in New York. Her research focuses on child language development to reduce stigma from disabilities. Dr. Obeid received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from the American University of Beirut. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the City University of New York.
Rachel Quist is an assistant professor in the department of art history and art. Dr. Quist was a guest researcher at Osaka University in Japan. Her research centers on Japanese art history, examining the ways that Buddhist images come to life through their relationships to people and places. Dr. Quist holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in the history of art and a Ph.D. in art history, all from the University of Kansas.
Stacy Ryan-Pettes is an associate professor in the department of psychological sciences. Earlier, she was an assistant professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Her research centers on advancing evidence-based interventions for adolescent substance use. Dr Ryan-Pettes holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, all from Emory University in Atlanta.


