Cheryl A. Armstead

Cheryl A. Armstead is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina's McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, with adjunct appointments in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her research examines ethnicity, cardiovascular psychophysiology, and health disparities, particularly focusing on relationships between racism, stress reactivity, socioeconomic status, and cardiovascular disease.

Research investigations include bio-behavioral pathways linking socioeconomic status and hypertension development, cardiovascular hyper-reactivity among African Americans, risky sexual behavior psychology, and health promotion strategies for underserved populations. Laboratory studies analyze hypertension risk factors through cardiovascular response measurements to laboratory stressors.

Recent publications explore the psychophysiology of coping, health disparities in cancer screening, and stress-related biomarkers in minority populations. Her work consistently demonstrates the impact of social determinants on physiological health outcomes.

• Society for Behavioral Medicine Best Visual Presentation (2001)
• NHBLI Minority Supplement Fellowship (1993-1994)
• NIMH Post-doctoral Fellowship (1991-1993)
• University of South Carolina Research Award (2002, 2004)
• Editor's Award for European Journal of Operational Research (2020)

Grant funding includes NSF IUCRC awards for quantum financial technologies and CDC/Society of Actuaries projects on syphilis prevention and cancer disparities. She directs community-based participatory research through the South Carolina Cancer Disparities Network.