Carmen Samuel-Hodge

Carmen Samuel-Hodge, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health. She holds roles as Evaluation Core Director at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Translational and Implementation Research Specialist at the Granville-Vance Public Health District Health Department. Her work bridges academia and public health practice, focusing on behavioral interventions for chronic disease prevention and health equity.

Education: PhD in Public Health Nutrition (UNC, 2000), MPH in Public Health Nutrition (UNC, 1993), MS in Nutrition (University of Maryland, 1984), BA in Biology (George Washington University, 1976).

Research Interests: Behavioral science, diabetes management, nutrition, obesity, and health disparities. She develops interventions targeting underserved populations, emphasizing family and community engagement. Her work includes psychosocial instrument validation for diabetes self-care and qualitative methodologies for intervention design.

Award Highlights: Inaugural Gillings Faculty Award for Excellence in Health Equity Research (2020), Harriet H. Barr Distinguished Alumni Award (2018), and North Carolina Dietetic Association Outstanding Educator Award (2014).

Grants & Service: Secures grants for integrated care and health promotion programs in rural NC. Leads the SistahDocs mentoring initiative for Black doctoral students. Collaborates with Duke and NC Central Universities in academic health department partnerships.

Labs/Teams: Embedded in the Granville-Vance Health Department, leading translational research efforts. Active in the Gillings Innovation Labs and Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.