Jeffrey Bolt                    

Doctoral Candidate

Kent State University

BA      State University of New York at Buffalo

MA     Michigan State University

PhD    Kent State University (May 2008 expected)


Jeffrey Bolt is currently working as an adjunct faculty member in the department of communication. In addition to teaching Communication Research Methods (Comm 30000) and Theories of Communication (Comm 20000), Mr Bolt is writing his dissertation on Mood Management Theory. More specifically, his dissertation topic is investigating how users of new technologies implement these devices to sustain a hedonistic mood state and when social contractions will encourage the individual to maintain a less than positive state. Mr. Bolt’s research in this topic challenges the external validity of previous Mood Management experiments and allows for natural audience selectivity in his procedures.

Beyond his research on users’ cognitive use of entertainment for emotional regulation, Mr. Bolt has presented his original research at State and National Conferences in the areas of Framing and Dissent, Perceived Realism, New Media, and First Amendment Rights. In addition to presenting research at the National Conferences, Jeffrey is very active in the National Communication Association. He volunteers as a reviewer for both the Freedom of Expression Division and the Mass Communication Division. He also chairs presentations for the Mass Communication Division and was elected Secretary for the Freedom of Expression Division.