Health Literacy and Communication Core (HLC) Sub-Core

The mission of Health Literacy and Communication Core (HLC) sub-core is to leverage the interdisciplinary expertise of faculty from the College of Health Sciences, the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, and other academic units to enhance NCCU’s institutional capacity in key areas such as innovative health communication, health literacy, digital literacy, cultural and linguistic sensitivity, and misinformation.

The core's objectives include:

• Developing theory- and evidence-based interventions to improve health literacy in communities experiencing health disparities
• Identifying and testing innovative approaches to enhance communication across the lifespan
• Supporting the broader NCCU community and its partners in research and practice related to health communication, health literacy, and linguistics
• Creating student engagement opportunities across core initiatives, fostering interdisciplinary talent, and equipping students with the knowledge and skills to advance health

The leaders of the HLC are Tianduo Zhang, Ph.D., and Cherise B. Harrington, Ph.D., M.P.H.

The core components of the HLC include the following:

1. Research consultations
2. Program evaluations
3. A health communications lab (equipped with social media mining capabilities and eye-tracking technology for message development)
4. Mobile health (mHealth) and digital literacy
5. North Carolina Collaborative for Art and Health (NCCAH), a network of artists and researchers dedicated to using the arts as a tool for innovative health communication

The following resources are available through the HLC:

• Research consultations on approaches to improve health literacy, using communication frameworks, content development, and leveraging technology in the intervention design.
• Program evaluations on programs designed to improve health literacy, address misinformation, and distribute health information

Current initiatives at the HLC include the following:

• Community Health Needs Assessment, partnering with the NCCU Department of Public Health Education and the Durham County Department of Public Health to recruit minoritized communities in Durham County for the 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment.
• Development of a digital learning community (DLC). Scheduled to launch in summer 2025, the DLC will enhance health literacy among North Carolina residents by serving as a resource hub for three key groups:
  • Community members seeking accessible, reliable health information
  • Healthcare and clinical professionals aiming to improve patient communication and education
  • Academicians engaged in community-based research and practice.

This platform will provide expert-driven, credible knowledge tailored to each group's needs while fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and learning.