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Kirsten Hokeness

Kirsten Hokeness, Professor, is a native of Glocester, Rhode Island. She received her bachelor’s degree in General Biology from the University of New Hampshire. Prior to obtaining her Ph.D. she worked as a research assistant in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Roger Williams Hospital, working to amplify the effects of Paclitaxel on breast cancer cells and melanoma cells with interferon gamma and vitamin D. From there she obtained her Ph.D. from Brown University where she studied immunity to viral infections, completing her thesis entitled “Characterization of Cytokine/Chemokine Networks Critical during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection.” She was hired as an Assistant Professor at Bryant University, following her year-long postdoctoral position at Brown University. While at Bryant she has taught a number of classes including Biology, Introduction to Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biology lab, Ecology lab, Foundations of Pharmaceutical Science and Immunity and Disease. Her research currently focuses on examining mechanisms of immune suppression following exposure to microbial volatile organic compounds and determining the role of cytokines and chemokines during infection with Clostridium difficile. Additionally, she is looking at how students perceive health information and make choices regarding their health and vaccines. She has been the recipient of funding from Rhode Island’s INBRE program. Currently she is chair of the department and serves as the pre-health adviser.

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., “I feel like the risks far outweigh the benefits of the vaccinations.”: 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’s 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.