Charis Davidson

  • Assistant Professor and Program Director, Health Sciences
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Dr. Charis Davidson leads the Health Promotion concentration and teaches courses in program planning, evaluation, and global health. Dr. Davidson conducts research in community health education, and regularly collaborates with scholars in related fields such as nursing, nutrition, and psychology. Her research interests include: faith placed & faith based health promotion interventions, Hispanic/Latino faith and health, sexuality and sexual health, health communication, and implementation science.  She is a mixed-methods researcher who focuses on qualitative research methods, including interviews, focus groups, and photovoice.

DrPH, Health Promotion Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina

MPH, Health Promotion Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina

Graduate Studies Certificate, Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina

Dr. Davidson teaches courses in the undergraduate health science program, predominantly in the Health Promotion concentration.

Courses she teaches regularly include:

HLSC 250: Global Health
HLSC 350: Health Communication
HLSC 390: Epidemiology
HLSC 395: Health Promotion and Program Intervention

Davidson C.R., Turner-McGrievy G.M., Hilfinger Messias D.K., Robillard A.G., Friedman D.B., Schwiesow J., Warren, P. (2020) Campus ministry leaders promoting student mental health at a large public university in the Southeast United States. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 23(1), 67-79.

DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2020.1718068

Davidson, C.R., Turner-McGrievy, G.M., Hilfinger Messias, D. K., Friedman, D.B., Robillard, A.G (2019). A pilot study examining religious organization affiliation, sexual health information sources, and sexual behaviors among college students. American Journal of Sexuality Education.14 (1), 32-54. DOI: 


Davidson C.R., Turner-McGrievy G.M., Hilfinger Messias, D.K., Friedman, D.B., Robillard, A.G. (2017). Conversations about sexuality on a public university campus: Perspectives from campus ministry students and leaders. Sex Education. 117 (1), 103-118. DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2016.1243523

Schoffman D.E., Davidson C.R., Hales S.B., Crimarco A.E., Dahl A.A., Turner-McGrievy G.M. (2016). The fast casual conundrum: Fast casual restaurant entr茅es are higher in calories than fast food. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 116,1606-1612. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2016.03.020

Turner-McGrievy G.M., Davidson, C.R., Billings, D.L. (2015). Dietary intake, eating behaviors, and quality of life in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome who are trying to conceive. Human Fertility. 18 (1),16-21.

Turner-McGrievy, G.M., Davidson, C.R., Wingard, E.W., Wilcox, S., Frongillo, E.A. (2015). Comparative effectiveness of plant-based diets for weight loss: A randomized control trial of 5 different diets. Nutrition. 31, 350-358.

Hales, S.B., Davidson, C.R., Turner-McGrievy, G.M. (2014). Varying social media post types differentially impacts engagement in a behavioral weight loss intervention. Journal of Translational Behavior Medicine. 4(4),355-362.

Turner-McGrievy, G.M., Davidson, C.R., Wingard, E.E., Billings, D.L. (2014). Low glycemic index vegan or low calorie weight loss diets for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled feasibility study. Nutrition Research.34 (6), 552-558.

Turner-McGrievy G.M., Davidson C.R., Wilcox S. (2014).Does the type of weight loss diet affect who participates in a behavioral weight loss intervention? A comparison of participants for a plant-based diet versus a standard diet trial. Appetite.73,156-62.

Davidson, C.R, Billings, D. L., Friedman, D.B. (2013). Understanding Family Planning in San Ignacio, Belize. Journal of Global Health. 3 (1), 25-31.

Davidson, C.R., Best, N.M., Francis, J.W., Cooper, E.L., Wood, T.C. (2008). Toll-like receptor genes (TLRs) from Capitella capitata and Helobdella robusta (Annelida). Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 32(6),608-12.