Directory

Jennifer Kowalkowski
PhD, MPH, RN

Assistant Professor

119N USB II, 22 University Drive, University Park

Phone: 814-380-9897

Email: jqk6169@psu.edu

Kowalkowski is an Assistant Professor in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), and a faculty affiliate with the Rock Ethics Institute, Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and Clinical and Translational Research Institute. After completing her BS in Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), earned an MS in Nursing (emphasis in education), an MPH, and a PhD in Nursing (minor in Population Health Sciences) at UW-Madison. Subsequently, she was a post-doctoral scholar in Rural Health Disparities in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at PSU. Kowalkowski’s program of research focuses on social processes that create structural barriers to optimal health and well-being among rural and agricultural populations. Using mixed methods, she explores the intersection of occupation and health to understand the processes and mechanisms that contribute to physical and mental well-being among agricultural producers (farmers). Her work advances our understanding of factors that mitigate adverse effects of occupational stress on health outcomes, including suicide, for farmers. Her experiences as a Registered Nurse and deep roots in agriculture fuel her work, as well as her commitment to improving access to health supporting services and resources for farmers and farm families in the communities where they live.

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University
• PhD, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• MPH, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• MS, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• BS, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Awards and Honors

• Lloyd Prize for Innovative Health Research, The Pennsylvania State University, 2025
• Michigan Integrative Well-Being and Inequality (MIWI) Training Program – Cohort 6, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 2025
• Distinguished Future Faculty Partner Award, Teaching Academy, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI-2022
• NRHA/John Snow, Inc. Student Leadership Award, National Rural Health Association, 2020
• Qualitative Methods Graduate Research Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, 2020

Teaching

Courses Taught

• NURS830: Evidence-Based Practice I: Inquiry and Research Methods

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Certificate in Data Science Essentials (R), Cornell University
• Certificate in Data Analytics in R, Cornell University

Mentorship

• 9 Graduate students

Research

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

• Rural and agricultural health and well-being

• RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
  Grounded theory, mixed methods, spatial analysis, social network analysis, wearable/smart technologies, survey methods, equitable and inclusive research practices, building trust with research participants, behavior change interventions, design for dissemination.
• TEACHING AND LEARNING
  Backward course design, curriculum development, concept-based curriculum, trauma-informed pedagogy, unconscious bias and identity, recognizing and reducing implicit bias, inclusive teaching practices, test item writing.
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
  Community-academic partnerships, community-based participatory research.
• LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING
  Conflict management, research mentor training.

Presentations and Conference Involvement

CONFERENCES:

• Kowalkowski, J. (2025). Tailgate Medicine: A Novel Health Delivery Model to Address Rural Health Disparities. Sigma 48th Biennial Convention 2025. Indianapolis, IN. November 8, 2025.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2025). Reducing Barriers to Preventive Care for Immigrant Dairy Farm Workers Through Applied Linguistics. Pennsylvania Public Health Matters! People, Strategies, and Policies to Advance Healthy Communities. State College, PA. April 15, 2025.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2025). Healthcare Communication & Health Disparities. Diversity in Healthcare Conference, State College, PA. March 23, 2025.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2024). Bridging the Translational Divide: Critically Evaluating Context and Causation. 2024 Translating Research to Innovations in Practice Symposium. Hershey, PA. May 9, 2024.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2024). Bridging the Translational Divide: Critically Evaluating Context and Causation. Eastern Nursing Research Society 36th Annual Scientific Sessions. Boston, MA. April 5, 2024
• Li, Y., Rhubart, D., & Kowalkowski, J. (2023). The Potential Health Risks of Using Bars as Third Places in Rural America. 85th Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society. Burlington, VT, August 2, 2023.
• Rhubart, D., Kowalkowski, J. & Pillay, T. (2023). Third Places in Rural America: Utilization and Disparities in Meaningful Use. 85th Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society. Burlington, VT, August 4, 2023.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2022). Mitigating the Negative Health Effects from Stress: A Social Network Analysis International Conference on Agricultural Health and Safety. Prague, Czech Republic – Virtual, July 13, 2022.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2023). Applying Spatial Social Networks to Mitigate Adverse Occupational Related Health Effects Among Agricultural Producers. (2023). Spatial Social Network Workshop, Georgia Institute of Technology, May 18, 2023.
• Invited Penn State Attendee. (2023). PHN Annual Provider Meeting with Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Penn State Shenango, April 13-14, 2023.
• Root-Thompson, M. and Kowalkowski, J. (2022). Twisted Text and Shiny Squirrels: Meeting Students Where They Are at Through Experiential Learning. Faculty Idea Exchange (FIX) Annual Conference. Columbus, OH. June 10, 2022.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2021). Challenging Educational Practices that Contribute to Rural Health Disparities. International Rural Nursing Conference. Virtual. July 27-30, 2021.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2021). Defining Social Networks Among Farm Owner-Operators for Health Improvement (Poster). National Rural Health Association Annual Conference. Virtual. May 5-7, 2021.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2021). Defining Social Networks for Health Among Farm Owner Operators. Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference. Virtual. March 2021.
• Kowalkowski, J., Hartline, C. J., Size, T. (2020). Advancing Rural Health: Nursing Education, Policy, and Practice. National Rural Health Association Conference. San Diego, CA. May 20, 2020.

INVITED TALKS:

• Rhubart, D. & Kowalkowski, J. (2023). The Rural Health & Engagement Survey: Measuring Meaningful Use of Social Infrastructure among Rural Working Age Adults. Rural Health and the Built and Social Environments Working Group, The Pennsylvania State University. Virtual, April 23, 2023
• Kowalkowski, J. (2021). Aging in Rural America. Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center, Marquette University. Virtual. March 12, 2021.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2020). Promoting Rural and Agricultural Health Equity: Protecting Populations and Changing Systems. National Farm Medicine Center. Marshfield, WI. November 11, 2020.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2020). Strategies for Rural Communities: Collaborations to Strengthen Health. University of Wisconsin-Madison LaFollette School of Public Affairs. Madison, WI. November 13, 2020.

CAMPUS/DEPARTMENTAL TALKS:

• Kowalkowski, J. (2024). Extreme Weather Events and Mental Well-Being Among Agricultural Producers. Population Research Institute Climate Change and Health Workshop. January 26, 2024.
• Kowalkowski, J. (2024). “We’re not prepared for this”: The Intersection of Work…

Research

Research Funding and Grants

• Kowalkowski, J. (PI). (2025). Developing a Conceptual Model to Describe How Farmers Experience Occupational Stress. Social Sciences Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University
  ($18,000). (Funded).
• Kowalkowski, J. (Co-PI), Xiao, S., Bakian, A., Davis, J., Toor, F., & Liderman, M. (2025). Integrating Diverse National Datasets Using Machine Learning to Address Pressing Public Health Problems. CORES (Consortium of Rural States) Multi-institutional Pilot Program.
  ($75,000). (Not funded)
• Xiao, S., Bakian, A., Davis, J., Kowalkowski, J. (Co-PI), Toor, F., & Liderman, M. (2024). Investigating the impact of Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollutants on Farmer Suicide Rates Using Machine Learning. American Suicide Prevention Foundation Pilot Grant.
  ($50,000). (In-review)
• McShane, M. (PI) & Kowalkowski, J. (Co-PI). (2023). “Connecting the Network: Establishing a Coalition Toward Increased Immunization Rates in Central Pennsylvania.” CTSI Bridges to Translation Grant
  ($50,000). (Funded)
• Rhubart, D. (PI) & Kowalkowski, J. (Co-I). (2021). “Social Infrastructure and Dimensions of Mental Health Substance Use among Rural Working-Age Adults.” Department of Biobehavioral Health Seed Grant
  ($9,472.52) (Funded)
• Kowalkowski, J. (PI). (2020). “Examining the Role of Social Support Networks in Farmer Health.” Midwest Nursing Research Society-Council for Advancement of Nursing Science Dissertation Grant
  ($2,500.00) (Funded)
• Kowalkowski, J. (PI). (2020). “Examining the Role of Social Support Networks in Farmer Health.” University of Wisconsin-Madison Nursing Research and Scholarship Award
  ($3,750.00) (Funded)
• Kowalkowski, J. (PI). (2020). “Examining the Role of Social Support Networks in Farmer Health.” Sigma Nursing Honor Society Dissertation Grant
  ($5,000.00) (Not funded)

Publications and Scholarly Work

• Kowalkowski, J., Rhubart, D., & Li, Y. (2025). Mental health status and third places use among rural working-age adults in the United States. Rural Society, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10371656.2025.2465169
• Rhubart, D., Kowalkowski, J., Velasco-Palacios, H. & Brant, K. (2024). The loss of rural vital places: A case study using the Social Determinants of Health Framework. Journal of Wellbeing, Space & Society, 7, 10028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2024.10028
• Brant, K., Segel, J.E., McShane, M.P., Rhubart, D., Kowalkowski, J., Palacios, H.V. & Jackson, J. (2024). Implementing a Teaching Rural Mobile Health Clinic: Challenges and Adaptations. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(1), 385-390. https://www.muse.jhu.edu/article/919825
• Rhubart, D., Kowalkowski, J. & Yerger, J. (2023). Rural-Urban disparities in self-reported physical/mental multimorbidity: A cross-sectional study of self-reported mental health and physical health among working age adults in the U.S. Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 13, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/26335565231218560
• Rhubart, D., Kowalkowski, J. & Pillay, T. (2023) Third Places in Rural America: Prevalence and Disparities in Use and Meaningful Use. Journal of Rural Studies, 104, 103153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103153
• Rhubart, D., Kowalkowski, J. & Wincott, L. (2023). The Built Environment and Social and Emotional Support among Rural Older Adults: The Case for Social Infrastructure and Attention to Ethnoracial Differences. Rural Sociology, 88(3), 731-762. https://doi.org/10.1111/ruso.12491
• Rhubart, D., & Kowalkowski, J. (2022). Perceived mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: The roles of social support and social engagement for working age adults in the United States. Preventive Medicine, 162, 107171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107171
• Oakley, L. D., Kuo, W., Kowalkowski, J., & Park, W. (2021). Transcultural Meta-Analysis of PTSD Prevalence Rates: Implications for population health. Transcultural Journal of Nursing, 32(4), 412–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659621993909
• Yu, Z., Kowalkowski, J., Roll, A. E., & Lor, M. (2021). Engaging Underrepresented Communities in Health Research: Lessons Learned. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 43(10), 915–923. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920987999
• ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7311-7934
• Bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1pYkDdWvUCQQl/bibliography/public/

Editorial and Peer Review Roles

GRANT REVIEWER:

• National Institute of Mental Health

JOURNAL REVIEWER:

• The Journal of Rural Health
• Wellbeing, Space & Society
• The Gerontologist
• Western Journal of Nursing Research
• Nursing Outlook

Service

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

• 2024-2025: Faculty Selection Committee, Schreyer Honors College, The Pennsylvania State University.
• 2024-2025: Search Committee, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2024-2025: Faculty Affairs Committee, PhD Council Representative, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2024-2025: PhD Council, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2024 Judge, 2024: Undergraduate Exhibition, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2024 Judge, 2024: Graduate Exhibition, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2023-2024: Faculty Selection Committee, Schreyer Honors College, The Pennsylvania State University.
• 2023-Present: Member, Rural Health Advisory Board, Collaborative Partnerships and Research Development, Clinical & Translational Science Institute, The Pennsylvania State University.
• 2022-Present: Member, Substance Use Stigma Reduction Collaborative, Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction, The Pennsylvania State University.
• 2022-Present: Member, Population Health Working Group, Population Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University.
• 2022-Present : Member, Rural Health and the Built and Social Environments Working Group, Rural Health Disparities Lab, The Pennsylvania State University.
• 2022-2023: Co-Chair, Leadership Council Penn State Postdoctoral Society, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2022-2023: Chair, Writing Group Committee Penn State Postdoctoral Society, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2020-2021: Mentor, Chronic Health Allies Mentorship Program (CHAMP), University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2019-2021: Co-Chair, Executive Committee, Teaching Academy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2019-2021: Member, Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Advisory Council, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2019-2021: Member, Feedback on Teaching Committee, Teaching Academy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2019-2021: Member, Interprofessional Health Council, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2019-2021: Founder and Chair, Social Network Analysis Interest Group, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2019-2021: Co-Chair, Graduate Nursing Student Organization, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing
• 2019-2021: Chair, Assessment Committee, Teaching Academy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2018-2020: Chair, Future Faculty Executive Committee, Teaching Academy, University of Wisconsin-Madison

LEADERSHIP:

• 2024-Present: Strategic Planning Committee, Agricultural Health and Safety Program, Extension, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2025-Present: Summit Planning Committee, Appalachian Translational Research Network
• 2021-2023: Board of Directors, AgriSafe
• 2018-Present: Bylaws Committee Chair, Rural Nurses Organization

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• 2025: Abstract Reviewer, American Public Health Association (APHA) 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo
• 2024: Abstract Reviewer, Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo
• 2024: Abstract Reviewer, American Public Health Association (APHA) 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
• 2024: Abstract Reviewer, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS) 2024 Annual Meeting
• 2024 2024: Substance Use and Stigma Conference Advisory Board
• 2022: Poster Judge, National Postdoctoral Association Annual Conference. April 2022
• 2020-2021: Member, Workforce Advisory Committee, Wisconsin Nurses Association
• 2019-2021: Member, International Nurse Leader Review Committee, Sigma Nursing Honor Society
• 2019-2020: Volunteer Registered Nurse, Wisconsin Department of Health Medical Reserve Corps
• 2018-2023: Advisor, Undergraduate Rural Health Association, University of Wisconsin-Madison

MEMBERSHIPS

• Pennsylvania Rural Health Association
• Appalachian Translational Research Network
• National Leage for Nursing
• Eastern Nursing Research Society
• Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Sciences
• Pennsylvania Nurses Association
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• International Network for Social Network Analysis

Download Kowalkowski’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/25/2025