Karen Perta
Karen Perta, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (she/her)
Assistant Professor
BA West Chester University of Pennsylvania in Communicative Disorders
MS James Madison University in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Ph.D. The Ohio State University in Speech and Hearing Science
Certificate of Clinical Competence, Speech-Language Pathology
Dr. Perta joined Elmhurst University in Fall 2024 as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She completed her doctorate at The Ohio State University with an emphasis on vocal tract physiology with training in MRI data analysis and cadaveric dissection. She completed her dissertation on speech/voice motor learning and is actively conducting research on this topic. Other current research interests include gender-affirming voice training and vocal health in professional voice users. She has published in several flagship journals, including Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, Journal of Voice, The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, and Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology.
Dr. Perta has been a voice-specialized medical speech-language pathologist for 15 years, working full-time for 7 years prior to completing her Ph.D. She worked in the Voice Center at OhioENT in Columbus, OH for 5 years and performed over 6,000 VLS exams. She also worked in acute care, including stroke specialty centers, for 9 years and helped establish a FEES program throughout the OhioHealth system in Columbus. She also teaches continuing education courses and workshops nationwide. Previously serving as clinical faculty at Ohio University, Dr. Perta received the Excellence in Online Teaching Award. At Elmhurst, she teaches graduate courses in Neuroanatomy, Motor Speech Disorders, and Voice Disorders, as well as undergraduate courses in Speech Science.
Finally, Dr. Perta also holds a minor in Voice from West Chester University, as well as a graduate certificate in Singing Health from The Ohio State University. With over a decade of experience working with singers, she specializes in Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) and is an Estill Certified Master Trainer (EMT). She has a performing background that includes voice acting/voiceover, musical theater, acting for stage and film, and singing piano entertainment.