Elizabeth Mayer-Davis

Elizabeth "Beth" Mayer-Davis is the Dean of The Graduate School and the Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds joint appointments in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the School of Medicine, where she previously served as Chair of the Department of Nutrition for eight years. As Dean of The Graduate School, she oversees more than 160 degree-offering programs and over 10,000 graduate students at UNC Chapel Hill.

Dr. Mayer-Davis earned her educational credentials from prestigious institutions:

• Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley (1992)
• Master of Public Health with honors from the University of Colorado School of Medicine (1986)
• B.S. in Dietetics from the University of Tennessee (1980)

Dr. Mayer-Davis is an internationally recognized expert in diabetes research with a career focused on the epidemiology and natural history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adults. Her research addresses how nutrition impacts diabetes risk and complications, with particular emphasis on culturally and regionally diverse populations. Her primary current focus is on type 1 diabetes in youth and young adults, examining diabetes self-management and energy balance/weight management for individuals with type 1 diabetes. She employs innovative methodologies including large epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and adaptive intervention designs, often incorporating communication technologies to enhance patient-centered care.

Analysis of Dr. Mayer-Davis's recent publications reveals consistent focus on diabetes epidemiology across diverse populations, with particular attention to youth-onset diabetes, health disparities by race and ethnicity, and innovative interventions for diabetes management. Her work frequently addresses the intersection of obesity and diabetes, particularly in type 1 diabetes where this comorbidity has been historically understudied. The research demonstrates methodological sophistication through the use of advanced statistical techniques, continuous glucose monitoring data, and adaptive trial designs to address complex questions in diabetes care.

Dr. Mayer-Davis has received numerous professional honors and appointments:

• Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professorship at UNC
• President for Health Care and Education for the American Diabetes Association (2011)
• Member of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
• Appointee to President Obama's Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health
• Co-director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center funded by NIH

Throughout her career, Dr. Mayer-Davis has been deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers, having supervised dozens of graduate students. She has secured over $45 million in research funding, including as Principal Investigator for the Carolina site of the landmark SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study and the Nutrition for Precision Health Consortium initiative. Her leadership extends to national scientific committees and professional organizations, where she has shaped diabetes research and care standards. She is particularly dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in graduate education and research.

Dr. Mayer-Davis co-directs the UNC Nutrition Obesity Research Center, a NIH-funded center that has received continued support through multiple funding cycles. She also leads the Carolina site of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, a large multi-center national study that has been tracking diabetes incidence and trends in youth for over two decades. Her research team includes epidemiologists, nutritionists, statisticians, and clinicians working collaboratively to address critical questions in diabetes prevention and management.