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Administrator of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Faculty Suite B
Kirsten Hokeness
Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D., is the inaugural Dean of 黑料网911鈥檚 College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (CHBS) and Professor of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. An immunologist and virologist by training, she holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology from the University of New Hampshire and a Ph.D. from Brown University, where her research focused on immunity to viral infections and chemokine and cytokine networks.
Dr. Hokeness has played a central role in building and advancing the health and behavioral sciences at 黑料网911. In 2020, she founded the Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences with support from the Fred M. Roddy Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation. She subsequently served as Director of the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, leading its growth and evolution into 黑料网911鈥檚 College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Under her leadership, 黑料网911 has expanded its portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs in health and behavioral sciences, including the launch of the University鈥檚 first doctoral program in clinical psychology. She has championed a distinctive educational model that integrates rigorous disciplinary preparation with experiential learning, business, and applied artificial intelligence to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing healthcare and scientific landscape.
An accomplished scholar, Dr. Hokeness has published in leading journals including Journal of Virology and The Journal of Immunology. She has secured funding from the National Science Foundation to support STEM education and from the National Institutes of Health to expand biomedical research infrastructure and capacity at 黑料网911. A recognized expert on public health and infectious disease, she has contributed to national media outlets including The New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, USA Today, and NBC News.
Dr. Hokeness has received numerous honors for her leadership, teaching, and service, including Providence Business News鈥 40 Under Forty award, 黑料网911鈥檚 Distinguished Faculty Award, the University Spirit Award, and recognition as Volunteer of the Year by the ALS Association of Rhode Island. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and developing the next generation of leaders in science, behavioral health, and healthcare.
Dr. Hokeness has played a central role in building and advancing the health and behavioral sciences at 黑料网911. In 2020, she founded the Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences with support from the Fred M. Roddy Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation. She subsequently served as Director of the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, leading its growth and evolution into 黑料网911鈥檚 College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Under her leadership, 黑料网911 has expanded its portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs in health and behavioral sciences, including the launch of the University鈥檚 first doctoral program in clinical psychology. She has championed a distinctive educational model that integrates rigorous disciplinary preparation with experiential learning, business, and applied artificial intelligence to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing healthcare and scientific landscape.
An accomplished scholar, Dr. Hokeness has published in leading journals including Journal of Virology and The Journal of Immunology. She has secured funding from the National Science Foundation to support STEM education and from the National Institutes of Health to expand biomedical research infrastructure and capacity at 黑料网911. A recognized expert on public health and infectious disease, she has contributed to national media outlets including The New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, USA Today, and NBC News.
Dr. Hokeness has received numerous honors for her leadership, teaching, and service, including Providence Business News鈥 40 Under Forty award, 黑料网911鈥檚 Distinguished Faculty Award, the University Spirit Award, and recognition as Volunteer of the Year by the ALS Association of Rhode Island. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and developing the next generation of leaders in science, behavioral health, and healthcare.
Degrees Awarded
Ph D, Brown University
BS, University of New Hampshire
Ph D, Brown University
BS, University of New Hampshire
Selected Publications
Mott, S. F., Reid, A., Langlois, G., Hokeness, K., Biology 1 Laboratory: Principles of Biology Investigations, Academx Publishing, 2015.
Day, A. M., Volkman, J., Morse, C., Hokeness, K., Risk Perceptions Related to Vaccines and the COVID-19 Vaccine: Exploring the Utility of the PRISM Framework, Atlantic Journal of Communication.
Hokeness, K., Bulldog Science Scope, .
Hokeness, K., Chapter 5 Gene Expression and Biotechnology, .
Hokeness, K., The Case of the Malfunctioning Neuron: A look at what happens when cellular processes go wrong, National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.
Miller, R., Gutellius, D., Holmes, G., Suter, Z., Jones, J., Reid, C., Hokeness, K., CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ENDO-ACTING N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINIDASE FROM, .
Day, A., Volkman, J., Morse, C., Hokeness, K., 鈥淚 feel like the risks far outweigh the benefits of the vaccinations.鈥: Investigating vaccine risk perceptions, emotions, and the PRISM framework., Atlantic Journal of Communication, 2024.
Day, A. M., Volkman, J., McManus, T. G., Hokeness, K. L., Morse, C. R., Risk perceptions related to vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccine: Exploring the utility of the PRISM framework , National Communication Association , 2022.
Szollosi, D. E., Hokeness, K., Manzoor, M. K., Mechanisms of Autoimmunity and Pharmacologic Treatments, Springer International Publishing, 2020.
Volkman, J., Hokeness, K., Viens, A., , A., Information Source鈥檚 Influence on Vaccine Perceptions: An Exploration into Perceptions of Knowledge, Risk and Safety, Journal of Healthcare Communication, 2019.
Hokeness, K., Mott, S., Host-Pathogen Interactions: A Magnificent Battle in an Evolutionary Arms Race , National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 2018.
Hokeness, K., The Case of the Malfunctioning Neuron: When Cellular Processes Go Wrong, National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 2017.
Volkman, J., Hokeness, K., Viens, A., Dickie, A., Vaccine Hesitancy among Millennials: Concerns, Beliefs and Attitudes, Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, 2017.
Gutiellus, D., Logan, S., Reid, C., Hokeness, K., Functional Analysis of SleC from Clostridium difficile: an essential lytic transglycosylase involved in spore germination., Microbiology, 2014.
Kratch, J., Nadolny, C., Aicardi, K., Reid, C., Hokeness, K., The Effects of Fungal Volatile Organic Compounds on Bone Marrow Stromal Cells, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 2014.
Mott, S. F., Reid, A., Langlois, G., Hokeness, K., Biology 1 Laboratory: Principles of Biology Investigations, Academx Publishing, 2015.
Day, A. M., Volkman, J., Morse, C., Hokeness, K., Risk Perceptions Related to Vaccines and the COVID-19 Vaccine: Exploring the Utility of the PRISM Framework, Atlantic Journal of Communication.
Hokeness, K., Bulldog Science Scope, .
Hokeness, K., Chapter 5 Gene Expression and Biotechnology, .
Hokeness, K., The Case of the Malfunctioning Neuron: A look at what happens when cellular processes go wrong, National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.
Miller, R., Gutellius, D., Holmes, G., Suter, Z., Jones, J., Reid, C., Hokeness, K., CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ENDO-ACTING N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINIDASE FROM, .
Day, A., Volkman, J., Morse, C., Hokeness, K., 鈥淚 feel like the risks far outweigh the benefits of the vaccinations.鈥: Investigating vaccine risk perceptions, emotions, and the PRISM framework., Atlantic Journal of Communication, 2024.
Day, A. M., Volkman, J., McManus, T. G., Hokeness, K. L., Morse, C. R., Risk perceptions related to vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccine: Exploring the utility of the PRISM framework , National Communication Association , 2022.
Szollosi, D. E., Hokeness, K., Manzoor, M. K., Mechanisms of Autoimmunity and Pharmacologic Treatments, Springer International Publishing, 2020.
Volkman, J., Hokeness, K., Viens, A., , A., Information Source鈥檚 Influence on Vaccine Perceptions: An Exploration into Perceptions of Knowledge, Risk and Safety, Journal of Healthcare Communication, 2019.
Hokeness, K., Mott, S., Host-Pathogen Interactions: A Magnificent Battle in an Evolutionary Arms Race , National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 2018.
Hokeness, K., The Case of the Malfunctioning Neuron: When Cellular Processes Go Wrong, National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 2017.
Volkman, J., Hokeness, K., Viens, A., Dickie, A., Vaccine Hesitancy among Millennials: Concerns, Beliefs and Attitudes, Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, 2017.
Gutiellus, D., Logan, S., Reid, C., Hokeness, K., Functional Analysis of SleC from Clostridium difficile: an essential lytic transglycosylase involved in spore germination., Microbiology, 2014.
Kratch, J., Nadolny, C., Aicardi, K., Reid, C., Hokeness, K., The Effects of Fungal Volatile Organic Compounds on Bone Marrow Stromal Cells, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 2014.
Awards and Honors
Volunteer of the Year, 2017
Merit Award, 2016
Merit Award, 2014
Top 40 Under 40 in Rhode Island, 2013
Volunteer of the Year, 2017
Merit Award, 2016
Merit Award, 2014
Top 40 Under 40 in Rhode Island, 2013
Teaching Interests
Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Medical Sciences
Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Medical Sciences
Research Interests
Immunology, Virology, Microbiology, Human health and disease
Immunology, Virology, Microbiology, Human health and disease
Professional Memberships
Omicron Delta Kappa
National Association of Biology Teachers
Omicron Delta Kappa
National Association of Biology Teachers