Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Kristen Bacon began her career working as an occupational therapy assistant in 2003 while attending the weekend program at Utica College. After graduating in 2006 with a B.S. from Syracuse University at Utica College and M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Utica College in 2007, she then earned a post-professional clinical doctorate from Chatham University in 2011.

Dr. Bacon has presented at several national occupational therapy conferences and currently volunteers for organizations including AOTA and NBCOT. She is working on AOTA’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and a Flipped Learning 3.0 Certification, Level I. Her professional focus includes the adult and geriatric populations with a special interest in TBI and orthopedics.

Dr. Bacon began her academic work as adjunct professor for Keuka College in 2014. Since then, she has continued on as full-time academician and is an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Bacon was appointed to faculty development committee, is co-advisor for the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE), a national occupational therapy honor society, and completed a three-year term for Sigma Lambda Sigma (SLS) advisor the college wide honor society.

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Bennett graduated from Keuka College in the first OT master's program. After college she worked in local hospital and rehabilitation sites serving children to older adults. As she transitioned from rehabilitation sites to teaching she completed her post-professional clinical doctorate at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 2013.

Dr. Bennett has presented topics at national conferences that have included international, interprofessional service learning, program evaluation/outcome reporting and fieldwork level I experiences in emerging areas of practice. Dr. Bennett is currently Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and remains active working with adults in their homes as a per-diem therapist for Visiting Nursing Association/Kaleida Health in the Steuben County region. Dr. Bennett joined the Arc of Yates board of directors for a three year term. 

Professional Interests

Adults with developmental disabilities, middle to older adult populations, and professional development of the OT students of Keuka College.

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Julie Burns began her interest in Social Work as an activist during her teenage years and has been a professional Social Worker for 30 years.

She has participated in community organizing, planning, and leading demonstrations of civil disobedience in her community. She has a passion for working with people with disabilities and has spent the bulk of her career working with people with intellectual disabilities and their families in grassroots organizations.

Her work as direct care staff, educator, trainer, counselor, program developer, and administrator has provided a solid foundation for linking theory to practice. She has always believed that education can change the world and is deeply honored to teach the next generation of Social Workers.

Professional Interests

Public Policy and Social Change, Women's Healthcare, Reproductive Justice, Intellectual Disabilities, Human and Civil Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Narrative Inquiry and Critical Theories.

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Beth Hopkins brings decades of professional clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner in Family Health. She has been involved extensively in both professional practice as a F.N.P. and administratively in the development and delivery of health care models for otolaryngology, allergy/asthma, sleep medicine, occupational health, and primary care.

As clinical faculty in nursing, Dr. Hopkins has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and Upstate Medical University with her primary teaching focus at the graduate level, educating students in the nurse practitioner programs. Additionally, she has been involved in developing and teaching Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care extensively across the health professions. Dr. Hopkins area of interest is in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea having conducted her doctoral clinical scholarship project on increasing the primary care providers competence and confidence in early detection and intervention of sleep-disordered breathing in young children.

Professional Interests

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Beth Jordan is an experienced occupational therapist and associate professor at Keuka College, where she blends decades of clinical expertise with a commitment to education, research, and interprofessional collaboration. She has worked extensively in early intervention, CPSE, school-based services, and private practice. 

Dr. Jordan spent more than a decade as a senior OT at a developmental evaluation center, gaining deep expertise in neurodevelopment, assessment, and neurocognitive dysfunction. At Keuka College, she is actively involved in institutional service, serving on college committees, collaborating across divisions, and chairing the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Dr. Jordan serves as the New York State Ambassador for NBCOT, volunteers with NBCOT and AOTA, and contributes as a pediatric subject matter expert on NBCOT’s exam development committee. She presents regularly at professional conferences and is engaged in research to strengthen OT education and practice.

In 2025, Dr. Jordan received Keuka College’s Excellence in Advising Award. She also hosts the podcast OccupaTionally Speaking: Insights from an OT, where she explores innovation and real-world challenges in occupational therapy.

Her philosophy is rooted in understanding not just “what is the matter—but what matters most to the people.”

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Jason McKinney earned a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Social Work from Roberts Wesleyan College and a PhD in Human Development from the University of Rochester. Dr. McKinney has authored articles in peer reviewed journals, including Child and Family Services Review and The Journal of Critical Social Work. He has also published articles in The New Social Worker. His research interest is in the developing self across the life span, and most recently within caregiver-child interactions. In 2006, Dr. McKinney received the Scandling Scholar Award from the University of Rochester. Dr. McKinney's practice experience includes family therapy, parent-training curriculums, and the design and implementation of a successful therapeutic foster care program in Rochester, NY. Prior to joining Keuka College, Dr. McKinney taught at Ashland University as an Assistant Professor of Social Work and adjunct at The Greater Rochester Collaborative, State University of New York (SUNY, Brockport) and Nazareth College, and also at Roberts Wesleyan College. He places a strong emphasis on the need for research in social welfare and enjoys providing students with opportunities for meaningful research.

Professional Interests

Research in Selfhood and Identity Development within Cultural Categories Across the Lifespan Using Socio-Linguistic and Discourse Analytic Methodology, Effects of the Child Welfare System on Children and Families, Community-based Action Research on Aging Well.

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials

Academic Credentials