Dr. Elena Past
Professor of Italian and FRIT Department Chair
Elena Past was thrilled to relocate to Columbus this July to join the thriving Department of French & Italian as Chair. She grew up on her grandfather’s ranch in South Texas in a house her teacher-parents built themselves, in a space that inspired her love for oak trees, dark skies, and long walks (not so much for rattlesnakes, although she wishes them well). Her path to Italian began at the University of Texas at Austin, where she met an amazing faculty mentor who encouraged her to study abroad (she went to Siena) and do research (she wrote a senior thesis on women watching the Palio horserace). She got her PhD in Italian at the University of Pennsylvania, then spent 20 years at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, which cemented her love for urban, public higher education.
Her research is in Italian film studies and the Environmental Humanities, considering the environmental impacts of film productions and the environmental potentials of film narratives. In her free time, you might find her reading novels, seeking out film screenings in analog, listening to live music, looking at eco-art, hiking and running in urban and wild spaces, or making pasta alla chitarra and heirloom beans.
Dr. Ryan Gomez
Associated Faculty in French
Ryan has been teaching French since the first semester of his master's program at the University of New Mexico in 2016, save for a period teaching English at the Université de Rennes 2 in France through 2017 and 2018. He eventually made his way to Washington University in St. Louis where he earned his PhD in French Language and Literature just last month! He’s very excited to be back in the classroom after a couple years on dissertation fellowship, joining FRIT as a French lecturer and collaborating closely with French Basic Language leadership.
Ryan loved the dramatic mountains of New Mexico and the mystical Breton forests and coastlines of Arthurian legend, and tries to go back to New Mexico and France as often as possible to reconnect with his favorite people and places. He also loves living in the Midwest, having fallen deeply in love with St. Louis during his PhD program. He is excited to have relocated to a new city and is looking forward to spending as much time as possible exploring Columbus and the surrounding regions—all recommendations welcome! Ryan loves road trips, architecture, theme parks, board games, discovering new bande dessinée, record stores, singing, playing violin with community orchestras, attending hockey games, and spending quality time with his two cats, Lucy and Rosie.
Jenna Thrash
Senior Academic Program Services Specialist
Jenna began her Ohio State journey in 2012 as a graduate student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program. After graduating with her Master of Arts in 2014, she moved to New England where she bounced around from Worcester, then Boston, and then Providence, RI. After 8 years of soaking up New England culture and the magnificent snowy winters, Jenna moved back "home" to Columbus with her wife and fluffy beagle in 2022. Before joining the FRIT team, Jenna worked in academic advising for the College of Pharmacy for three years.
Originally from Tennessee, Jenna loves the mountains, hiking, biking, and traveling. When the weather is blah, she enjoys reading, writing, and playing the occasional video game. Although she misses hills, she loves Columbus and is happy to share her favorite things around the city to anyone who may be new. Jenna is also a big fan of college football and basketball - go Bucks! (also, go Vols!)
Gloria Galeno
Financial Operations Senior Coordinator
Gloria recently moved to Ohio from Phoenix, Arizona, where she spent 21 years. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Gloria is excited to begin this new chapter in Ohio, where she lives in Centerburg with her fiancé.
A proud Arizona State University alumna, Gloria previously worked for ASU for two years as a Business Operations Specialist Senior in the Department of Information Systems within the W. P. Carey School of Business. She brings several years of experience in business operations, including grant and contract management, travel, expenditures, purchasing, reconciliations, and budgeting.
Outside of work, Gloria enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and making memories with family, friends and her furbabies. As a proud Los Angeles native, she is also an avid sports fan who loves cheering on her hometown teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers. You can also often find her at the gym or exploring local hiking trails.
Gloria is excited to join the FRIT team and looks forward to meeting everyone, feel free to stop by Hagerty 298C to say hi!
Naya Gyamfi
Graduate Teaching Associate & PhD Candidate
Nana Yaa, who goes by Naya, joins the FRIT department as a new PhD student in French. Originally from Ghana, she completed her Master’s degree at Mississippi State University before making her way to Columbus. Her research focuses on Francophone Africa and she is passionate about the intersections of language, culture and politics in the region.
Outside of academia, Naya is a passionate soccer enthusiast and Champions League nights are her absolute favorite. Having already explored 9 states across the US, she is excited to discover the Midwest and everything Columbus has to offer. She is always happy to connect over a good match or a restaurant recommendation, and maybe even convert a few people into soccer fans along the way!
Roseline Adeleke
Graduate Teaching Associate & PhD Candidate
Roseline started her academic journey at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, where she earned her B.A in French. She later moved to the United States and earned her M.A. in French and Francophone Studies from the University of Kentucky. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in French at Ohio State, with interests in second language acquisition and language pedagogy. Having lived in different parts of the United States, she is excited to explore Columbus and discover new favorite places around the city.
Jessica Rodrigues Dourado Bandeira
Graduate Teaching Associate & PhD Candidate
Jessica Bandeira is a first-year PhD student in Italian Studies at The Ohio State University. Originally from Brazil, she holds a degree in International Relations and has worked in education, cultural and volunteer projects, and gastronomy, including running her own Italian restaurant. Although much of her professional journey took place outside academia, she always dreamed of returning to her studies and deepening her understanding of cross-cultural experiences in Italy.
Outside of her academic work, she enjoys creating her own recipes, experimenting in the kitchen, and preparing healthy meals for her family. She also loves spending time with her husband and their two children and exploring their new home in Columbus.
Brenda Ocana
FRIT Office Assistant & Undergraduate Student
Katie Cavanaugh
FRIT Office Assistant & Undergraduate Student