Education

B.A., Arcadia University
M.S., Psychology,The University of Georgia
Ph.D., Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia

Background

Jessica Shotwell is a public health researcher and health communicator with training and experience in academic and federal settings. She has extensive experience conducting and overseeing mixed-methods research, developing and piloting surveys, performing needs assessments and disseminating findings to scientific and public audiences. Shotwell has collaborated with clinicians, federal agencies, non-profits and community partners to build, implement and evaluate communication campaigns and strategies. In federal roles, she has served as a subject matter expert in health literacy, leading content strategy and ensuring clear, accessible, evidence-based communication. Her career centers on translating complex data into actionable insights to improve health outcomes.

Research

Shotwell's research focuses on health communication, health literacy, and the translation of evidence into practice. She examines how message design, audience characteristics and behavioral science can improve health outcomes and strengthen engagement across diverse communities. Her work employs mixed methods, including survey development, needs assessments, formative research and message testing. She is particularly interested in community-based participatory research and strategies that bridge research and implementation. Through this work, she aims to advance evidence-based communication practices that support informed decision-making and equitable access to health information.

Teaching

Shotwell's teaching philosophy emphasizes applied learning and critical thinking. She integrates real-world challenges into the classroom, helping students connect research methods and theory to practice. Drawing from experience in mixed-methods research and health communication,  she incorporates case studies, formative research exercises and message testing activities to build practical skills. She is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and ethical community engagement. Courses she teaches includes Social Influence and Persuasion, Conflict and Negotiation, and Health Communication.

Recent Publications

Collette, B., Shotwell, J., Shepherd, A., Shepherd, K., Renzi-Hammond, L. M., & Beer, J. M. (2021). Developing an Integrated Virtual Assistant (IVA): Feasibility of a Behavior Tracking and Reminder Prototype Solution to Assist Persons with Dementia and Their Care Partners.  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 65(1), 16-20. (Original work published 2021)

Goodie, A.S., Fortune, E.E., Shotwell, J.J. (2019). Cognitive Distortions in Disordered Gambling. In: Heinz, A., Romanczuk-Seiferth, N., Potenza, M. (eds) Gambling Disorder. Springer, Cham. 

Shotwell J, Dunlap B, Mungenast J, Renzi-Hammond L. HEALTH LITERACY AND PATIENT AUTONOMY: DOES AGE MATTER? Innov Aging. 2018 Nov 11;2(Suppl 1):307. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1127. PMCID: PMC6226829.

Shotwell, J., Hammond, B. R., Cromer, D. R., Dunlap, B. K., Ehling, S., Kuchan, M., ... & Renzi-Hammond, L. (2018, January). The relation between retinol, serum carotenoids, Vitamin D and cognitive function in community dwelling older adults. In JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE (Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 1024-1025). NIEUWE HEMWEG 6B, 1013 BG AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: IOS PRESS.

Fortune, E. E., Shotwell, J. J., Buccellato, K., & Moran, E. (2016). Factors predicting desired autonomy in medical decisions: Risk-taking and gambling behaviors. Health psychology open, 3(1), 2055102916651267.

Personal

I'm a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and value the role of mindfulness and well-being in both personal and professional life. Her yoga practice complements her work in health communication by reinforcing the importance of balance, clarity, and intentional practice.

Pronouns

She, her, hers, herself