Jess Kohlert

Jess Kohlert is a Full Professor in the Psychology Department at Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii), where he has served since 2015. He previously held leadership positions including Dean of the Faculty of Sciences (2019-2022) and Psychology Department Chair (2016-2019). Before joining BYU-Hawaii, he spent over a decade at King's College, progressing from Assistant to Full Professor while also serving as Department Chair.

Dr. Kohlert's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Brigham Young University (1995)
• B.S. in Business Finance from Brigham Young University (1985)
• A.A. in Business Management from Ricks College (1982)

Dr. Kohlert's research spans multiple domains of experimental psychology and behavioral neuroscience. His primary interests include the neurobiological basis of behavior, with particular focus on sexual behavior, aggression, and the effects of psychopharmacological agents. He has conducted extensive research using animal models, particularly Syrian hamsters and rats, to investigate dopamine pathways, hormone-behavior interactions, and the neural mechanisms underlying reward and addiction. More recently, his work has expanded to include cross-cultural psychology, examining acculturative stress in international students and prejudice toward religion.

His publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from basic neurobehavioral research using animal models to more applied psychological investigations. Early in his career, Kohlert focused on the neuroendocrinology of sexual behavior and aggression in rodent models. Over time, his research broadened to include human applications, particularly in educational psychology and cross-cultural contexts. His most recent work examines acculturative stress in international university students, showing his continued adaptation of research interests to address contemporary psychological questions.

Dr. Kohlert has been actively involved in academic service, having served as Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at BYU-Hawaii and as Psychology Department Chair at both BYU-Hawaii and King's College. He has also contributed to community service through roles on the Board of Directors for Northeast Counseling Services (including past presidency) and the Behavioral Health Research Institute. His teaching portfolio is extensive, covering courses from Introduction to Psychology to specialized neuroscience topics, reflecting his broad expertise across the psychology discipline.