Kent Hinkson

Faculty Member

Dr. Kent Hinkson

Biography

Dr. Hinkson is a clinical psychologist with a teaching focus on advanced research methods, statistics, abnormal psychology, forensic psychology, and other courses as needed. Research interests include social constructs and interactions as they relate to trauma and suicide interventions for PTSD, suicide, and moral injury; sexuality and sexual assault, the impact of mental health on postsecondary academic performance; and implementation science surrounding organization mental health services. His clinical specialization is in the assessment and treatment of trauma-related sequelae, with extensive experience working in outpatient and in-patient services, emergency departments, and crisis calls. Much of his clinical work focuses on sexual assault and other traumas.

Conducting research alongside engaged undergraduate and graduate students is a passion, and he loves sharing his passion for research with those who want to learn.

Education

PhD, University of Utah, 2022

Major: Clinical Psychology

MS, University of Utah, 2018

Major: Psychology

BA, Utah Valley University, 2015

Major: Social Work

BS, Utah Valley University, 2015

Major: Behavioral Science

Teaching

PSY 2300

Abnormal Psychology, Spring 2025

SW 6950

Advanced Applied Research--MSW Capstone, Spring 2025

PSY 3030

Research Methods for Psychology, Spring 2025

PSY 3110

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Spring 2025

PSY 3110

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Spring 2025

Presentations

Hinkson, Kent (Presenter & Author), Pyne, Jeff (Co-Author), Currier, Jeff (Co-Author), Weber, Marcela (Co-Author), Brandon, Griffin J (Co-Author), 41st annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , "Culturally responsive moral injury care_ Five perspectives and lessons", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , Baltimore, MD. (September, 2025)
Hinkson, Kent (Presenter & Author), Brooks, Malisa (Co-Author), Aamodt, Morgan (Co-Author), Baird, Bailey (Co-Author), Covarrubias, Emily (Co-Author), 41st annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , "Is it really the service dog? The impact of structured dog training on posttraumatic stress symptoms", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , Baltimore, MD. (September, 2025)
Brooks, Malisa (Presenter & Author), Lara, Ayleen (Co-Author), Aamodt, Morgan (Co-Author), Ryan, Gerolyn (Co-Author), Hinkson, Kent (Co-Author), 41st annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , "Trauma and healing_ The role of social reactions in shaping mental health for sexual assault survivors.", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , Baltimore, MD. (September, 2025)
Brooks, Malisa (Presenter & Author), Seppie, Tasha (Co-Author), Roberts, Ryan (Co-Author), McCullagh, Robb (Co-Author), Hinkson, Kent , 41st annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , "Understanding thought patterns in PTSD, depression, and anxiety after sexual assault. ", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies , Baltimore, MD. (September, 2025)
Hinkson, Kent (Presenter & Author), Brooks, Malisa (Presenter & Author), Generations Conference 2025, "Beyond the Basics_ Crisis Response Planning", ESI Management Group - Generations , Sandy, UT. (May 19, 2025)
Lara, Ayleen (Co-Presenter), Covarrubias, Emily (Co-Presenter), Hinkson, Kent (Author Only), Brooks, Malisa (Author Only), 2025 Annual Convention of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, "An exploratory examination of trauma-related characteristics among student veterans", Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Denver, CO. (April, 2025)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Griffin, B J, Norman, S B, Weber, M C, Hinkson, Kent D., Jr., Jendro, A M, Pyne, J M, Worthington, E L., Jr., Maguen, S , "Properties of the Self-Forgiveness Dual-Process Scale in populations at risk for moral injury." . Stress & Health.
Hood, Caitlyn O., Schick, Melissa R., Cusack, Shannon E., Fahey, Margaret C., Giff, Sarah T., Guty, Erin T., Hellman, Natalie , Henry, Lauren M., Hinkson, Kent , Long, Erin E., McCoy, Kelsey , O'Connor, Kelly , Padron Wilborn, Adaixa , Reuben, Aaron , Sackey, Enoch T., Tilstra-Ferrell, Emily L., Walters, Kyle J., Witcraft, Sara M., (2024) "Short-changing the future_ The systemic gap between psychology internship stipends and living wages." (Issue: 1, vol. 18). Training and Education in Professional Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000449
Pyne, J M, Constans, J I, Wiederhold, B K, Jegley, S , Rabalais, A , Hu, B , Weber, M C, Hinkson, Kent D., Jr., Wiederhold, M D, (2023) "Predicting post-traumatic stress disorder treatment response using heart rate variability to virtual reality environment and modified stroop task_ An exploratory study." .
Griffin, B J, Weber, M C, Hinkson, Kent D., Jr., Jendro, A M, Pyne, J M, Smith, A J, Usset, T , Cucciare, M A, Norman, S B, Khan, A , Purcell, N , Maguen, S , (2023) "Toward a dimensional contextual model of moral injury_ A scoping review on healthcare workers." .
Pyne, J M, Currier, J , Hinkson, Kent D., Jr., Usset, T J, Abeita, L , Dordal, P , Kouser, T , Awaad, R , Weber, M C, Griffin, B J, (2023) "Addressing religious and spiritual diversity in moral injury care_ Five perspectives." .
Shirley, D M, Metz, A J, Hinkson, Kent D., Jr., Brooks, Malisa M, Taylor, J M, Artman, S E, Burningham, C , Bryan, C J, (2022) "Academic performance of college student servicemembers and veterans_ The influence of emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and PTSD symptom severity." .

Awards

Most Valuable Professor (MVP)

Athletics Department, Utah Valley University - January, 2024

I was awarded a Most Valuable Professor award, nominated by the students of UVU

Faculty Excellence Award

Faculty Senate, Utah Valley University - April, 2021

Frederick T. Rhodewalt Award for Innovative Scholarship

University of Utah - April, 2021

Instructor of the Year

TRIO, Utah Valley University - April, 2018

Nancy J. Karlin Graduate Research Award

Rocky Mountain Psychological Association - April, 2018

Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award

University of Utah - March, 2018