Jessica StephensAssociate Professor, Biology Secondary Education Coordinator
Biography
Joined Westfield State University in 2020.
Education
Postdoctoral Appt., University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D., University of Georgia
M.S., Auburn University
B.S., Butler University
Courses Taught
Exploring the Complex Journal of Pregnancy (BIOL 0103)
General Biology II (BIOL 0158)
Evolution (BIOL 0230)
Writing in Biology (BIOL 0251)
Urban Ecology (BIOL 0490)
Areas of Research
Evolutionary Ecology
Plant Biology
Biology Education Research
Publications
Selected Peer Review Publications
(*indicates undergraduate author)
Stephens J.D., R.O. Determann, D.R. Folkerts, W. Rogers, R.L. Malmberg. Resubmitted. Morphological trapping traits associate with prey functional groups in the carnivorous pitcher plant genus Sarracenia. American Journal of Botany
Peitzsch J.M.*., J.S. Lee, J.D. Stephens. 2026. Genetic counselors in the classroom: Connecting cell cycle, meiosis, and gene expression in a societal context. CourseSource
Huang, W. et al. (one of 36 coauthors) 2026. DNA-based identification of plants and the genomic nature of plant species differences. Communications Biology 9:673
Yawn, N.D.*, R.O. Determann, D.R. Folkerts, P. Thompson, J.D. Stephens. 2023. Census and reassessment of the critically endangered Alabama canebrake pitcher plant (Sarracenia alabamensis), 24 years later. The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society
The Global Urban Evolution Project (one of 287 coauthors). 2022. Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover. Science 375:1275–1281.
Professional Service
- Co-PI of NSF funded projects (/STEM-ACT)