• ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION
• CHILDREN AND THE LAW, ABUSE AND NEGLECT
• GERONTOLOGY
• NUTRITION
• PREVENTIVE HEALTH
• PUBLIC HEALTH
• RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
• SOUTHERN CULTURE

Teresa Carithers, PhD, RD, LD FAND is the Interim Chair of the Department of Applied Gerontology and Professor of Nutrition and Hospitality Management. She holds a B.S. in Institutional Foods and a Masters (MHS) in Health Sciences from Mississippi College and completed her PhD in Preventive Medicine with emphasis in epidemiology from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Her professional experience is diverse and includes being a registered dietitian, epidemiologist, and certified organizational change facilitator and holds distinguished membership in the Society of Collegiate Scholars. She is known as a visionary leader, mentor and researcher focusing on improving health through research that addresseses health and public policy throughout the lifecycle,school nutrition environments, culture and health disparities.