Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Kristen Bacon is an experienced occupational therapist and dedicated educator with more than 20 years of clinical practice and 11 years of teaching in higher education. Her clinical expertise centers on adult rehabilitation, with a strong focus on acute care, intensive care units (ICU), and medical-surgical settings, where she continues to practice each week. Dr. Bacon is deeply committed to helping patients regain independence and quality of life following life-altering medical events, bringing both compassion and clinical excellence to her work. Dr. Bacon is passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of occupational therapists. She integrates real-world clinical insights into her instruction; values scholarship, evidence-based practice; and fosters critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and professional advocacy among her students. She regularly presents at national conferences and volunteers for NBCOT, AOTF, and AOTA. 

Academic Credentials

Biography

Dr. Michele Bennett ’05, M’06 is a committed educator, clinician, and community leader whose work exemplifies Keuka College’s mission to develop exemplary citizens and leaders to serve the nation and the world. A two-time graduate of Keuka College, Dr. Bennett earned her B.S. and M.S. in Occupational Therapy, and later completed her clinical doctorate at Chatham University.

Her professional journey began in regional hospital and rehabilitation settings, where she provided care across the lifespan – from pediatrics to geriatrics. This foundation in service and compassion laid the groundwork for her transition into higher education, where she continues to inspire future occupational therapists through innovative teaching and mentorship.

Dr. Bennett’s scholarship reflects Keuka College’s values of curiosity, community, and opportunity. She has presented nationally on topics such as international and interprofessional service learning, program evaluation, and emerging fieldwork practices. Her recent research explores the use of Virtual Reality to reduce stress and anxiety among college students, integrating technology to enhance wellness and learning.

As Division Chair of the Applied Health & Wellness Program and Professor of Occupational Therapy, Dr. Bennett fosters a collaborative and student-centered environment. She remains actively engaged in clinical practice as a per diem home health therapist in Steuben County, ensuring her teaching is informed by current, real-world experience.
Dr. Bennett’s commitment to community is evident in her service on the Mozaic Board of Directors and her leadership role as facilitator of the Network for Spousal Caregivers of Stroke Survivors in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Through these roles, she opens doors to support, advocacy, and education for underserved populations.

Her work embodies the spirit of Keuka College – engaging with purpose, leading with integrity, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

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

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

Otolaryngology, Allergy/Asthma, pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Interprofessional Education, and Collaborative Care.

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