Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Carol Anne Bryant

Name

Carol Anne Bryant

College

College of Public Health

Department

Community and Family Health

Undergraduate Degree

B.A., anthropology

From

University of Kentucky

Graduate Degree

MA., anthropology; M.S., Clinical Nutrition

From

University of Kentucky

Doctoral Degree

Ph.D., anthropology

From

University of Kentucky

Previous Post(s)

Deputy Commissioner for Nutrition and Health Education

Area of Specialization / Research

Social marketing in public health; prevention research; community organization

Current Course Offerings

Qualitative Research Methods in Community and Family Health; Formative Research Methods in Social Marketing; Policy and Practice

How and when did you first become interested in your field of study?

As I completed my doctoral dissertation in 1978, I started working at the local public health department. I was impressed with the organization culture of public health, especially its practitioners’ commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. I worked my way up from an entry, health education position to Deputy Commissioner over the nutrition and health education programs. In 1985, my husband and I traveled to Ecuador to start a fluoride mouth rinse program. While traveling the country, we heard radio ads for breastfeeding promotion and other public health problems I was struggling with in Kentucky. We also met the social marketer behind these programs and hired her to help us conduct our first social marketing project in Kentucky. It was the most dramatic success I had had as a public health profession and so I have devoted the rest of my career to teaching others to use this planning framework to design behavior change interventions.

What made you decide to pursue a career in higher education?

My fascination with new knowledge.

Why did you choose to be a part of the academic community at USF?

We decided to move to the Tampa Bay area to be near my sister and help raise her two wonderful boys. The health department did not have a position open that interested me so I applied for a position as assistant professor in the College of Public Health.

What do you enjoy about teaching the students of USF?

Many of the students in the College of Public Health have worked in the field for years before enrolling in one of our graduate programs. As a result, they have a wealth of information to share in the classroom and serve as a reality check on what we teach.

What do you like about the university community?

I learn something new each day.