Cherise Harrington

Dr. Cherise B. Harrington serves as a professor and senior researcher in the Department of Public Health Education at North Carolina Central University. With a Master of Public Health specializing in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a Ph.D. in Medical Psychology, she is a dedicated scholar whose work addresses the complex factors that shape health outcomes.

Her research focuses on identifying and developing interventions to target health, environmental, cognitive, social, psychological, and behavioral influences on health. She employs innovative approaches, including community-based strategies and mobile health (mHealth) technologies, to improve health literacy, encourage prevention behaviors, and enhance disease management.

Dr. Harrington's work explores how race intersects with psychosocial and environmental factors to impact chronic illness while also addressing broader health disparities tied to social determinants of health. At NCCU, she co-leads the Center for Health Disparities Research and directs two key projects: the BeFAB-HBCU initiative, a multi-dimensional approach aimed at reducing excess weight and pre-diabetes among young adults, and a National Science Foundation-funded effort to enhance the recruitment and retention of rural students of color in STEM fields.

Her commitment to addressing systemic inequities and improving public health outcomes is reflected in her ability to design culturally relevant programs and conduct meaningful program evaluations. By integrating science, community engagement, and innovative technologies, Dr. Harrington continues to contribute to the advancement of public health research and practice.