PhD Students

Charity Lewis

Ph.D. Student
Office: MHC1304A
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Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests 

Age-related hearing loss, disparities in hearing healthcare utilization, religiosity and spirituality, and family caregiving

Education 

2022 – Present: Ph.D. in Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 
2020 – 2021: Master of Arts in Gerontology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 
2015 – 2017: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences & Disorders Concentration in Deaf Studies, University of South, Florida, Tampa, FL 
2012 – 2015: Associates of Arts in General Studies, Valencia College, Orlando, FL 

Classes Taught

DEP2004: The Life Cycle
GEY3625: Sociological Aspects of Aging

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Lewis, C. T., Malak, S., Hamada, F., & Toman, J. (2025). Racial/ethnic differences in loneliness and social isolation among older adults with hearing loss: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study. Journal of aging and health, 8982643251360309. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643251360309 

Hamada, F., Lewis, C. T., & Peterson, L. (2025). Effectiveness of hearing aid adherence on social connectivity in older adults: A scoping review. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 7334648251331328. Advance online publication. Https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251331328 

Lewis, C. T., Jang, Y., Elayoubi, J., Sanchez, V. A., Arnold, M. L., Toman, J., & Haley, W. E. (2025). Racial differences in discrepancies between subjective ratings and objective assessments of hearing impairment. The Gerontologist, 65(5), gnaf029. Https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf029

Lewis, C. T., Toman, J., Sanchez, V. A., Corvin, J., & Arnold, M. L. (2025). Examining the relationship between hearing health beliefs and social determinants of health in Black adults. Ear and hearing, 46(1), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001562

Jang, Y., Park, J., Chung, S., Lewis, C., Haley, W. E., & Kim, M. T. (2025). The role of sensory impairment in cognitive health appraisal: A study of older Korean Americans Living in Subsidized Senior Housing. Journal of aging and health, 37(5-6), 317–326. Https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643241247249

Manuscripts in Preparation

Lewis, C.T., Sanchez, V. A., Toman, J., Arnold, M. L & Haley, W.E. (2025). Cross-sectional relationships between religiosity/spirituality, loneliness, and social isolation in older adults with hearing loss: A racial/ethnic perspective

Lewis, C.T., Sanchez, V. A., Toman, J., Arnold, M. L & Haley, W.E. (2025). The longitudinal effects of religiosity and spirituality on cognitive function among older adults with and without hearing loss

Awards 

2025-2026 Recipient of the H. Edward Greely and Mildred Greely Endowed Fellowship
2023-24 Recipient of the Wolowec Scholarship
2022-23 Recipient of the Kathryn Hyer Endowed Scholarship 
2021-22 Co-Recipient of the Harold L. Sheppard Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Gerontology 

Fellowships

2022 – Present: McKnight Doctoral Fellowship