Each week, Cleveland State University will profile new faculty members with a “getting to know you” feature called ProfTALK. Learn about your prof’s background, bona fides and how they contribute to the momentum of Engaged Learning. Then get behind the desk and learn a little more about what makes them tick. This week, we touch on everything from healthcare and hypothesis to coronavirus and calculus! Meet Jessica Peck, Ph.D. and, Sara Froehlich, Ph.D.!

Monte Ahuja College of Business Assistant Professor Jessica A. Peck, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Management, Kent State University (2019)

M.B.A., Human Resources, Kent State University (2014)

B.B.A., Accounting, Bowling Green State University (2008)

Dr. Peck teaches Management Strategy and Policy, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resource Management. Her research examines the psychology of individuals within an organizational context with focus in the areas of leadership and bias. Her dissertation examined the influence of leader impression management and gender on follower perceptions of effective leadership. Most recently, Dr. Peck has focused on the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and organizations. This work includes a recent paper, “The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women relative to men: A conservation of resources perspective,” as well as examination of the negative psychological effects on healthcare workers, particularly physicians, treating COVID-19 patients. Her work has been published in The Leadership Quarterly, Gender Work & Organizations, Management Decision, and Frontiers in Psychology.

What three words come to mind when you think of Cleveland State University?

Opportunity. Welcoming. Industrious.

What is a common question you get from Cleveland State University students?

“Can you help me with my resume?”

What do you like most about teaching and why?

I am very passionate about helping students connect what we are learning in class to current events and/or their future career. Students don’t always understand the “so what” behind what they are learning, so I enjoy helping students make that connection and then seeing them become equally excited about applying it in their lives. I am constantly in awe and impressed by my students and sad to see them go at the end of every semester.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spend time with family, travel, walk my dog, cook, and bake.

Where is your favorite place in Cleveland and why?

It’s a tie between the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

What is a “fun fact” about you that many people may not know about you?

I grew up on a plot of land that used to belong to my great-grandparents’ big family farm that was parceled off to various family members. My aunt and uncle lived next door to me, then my grandparents, and so on…

What is your personal motto/mantra/axiom?

When you can be anything, be kind.

 

College of Sciences and Health Professions Assistant Professor of Practice Sara A. Froehlich, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Mathematics, McGill University (2017)

M.S., Mathematics, McGill University (2009)

B.S., Mathematics, University of Rochester (2006)

B.A., Economics, University of Rochester (2006)

Dr. Froehlich wears many hats here at Cleveland State University, including as the Operation STEM (OpSTEM) Director, and as the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Director. The former unit targets primarily first-generation, underrepresented STEM majors—providing those students with mentoring and individualized attention needed to help ensure successful completion of their STEM degrees. The latter free program aids with underrepresented minorities (URMs) students interested in STEM majors to pass calculus courses. Dr. Froehlich is also the Calculus Coordinator in her department. But the hat her students seem to appreciate the most is her friendly, thorough instruction of mathematics, which can be a fraught endeavor for some. Prior to CSU, Dr. Froehlich taught at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec where she also earned her master’s and doctoral degrees.

What three words come to mind when you think of Cleveland State University?

Community, diversity, innovation.

What is a common question you get from Cleveland State University students?

“Do you like Cleveland?” (The answer is yes; I love it so far!)                                                   

What do you like most about teaching and why?

What I enjoy most is my interactions with students and continuing to learn as I teach.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to read, last year I read 48 books!

Where is your favorite place in Cleveland and why?

My favorite place is Lakewood Park for the huge playground, solstice steps and great view of Lake Erie.

What is a “fun fact” about you that many people may not know about you?

I’ve traveled to countries on four different continents.

What is your personal motto/mantra/axiom?

“Nothing worthwhile comes without effort.”