Jessica Stephens
Associate 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

Department of Biology Professor Jessica Stephens.