Dr. LaPorchia Davis | Human Sciences | College of Agriculture
Dr. LaPorchia Davis is an Associate Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Product Development and serves as Interim Chair of the Department of Human Sciences at Tennessee State University. Her work bridges fashion and textiles, human sciences, health, and data-driven research, with an emphasis on creating innovative learning and research experiences that prepare students for evolving industries and interdisciplinary careers.
Education & Background
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Iowa State University: Master of Science & Ph.D. in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development.
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Meharry Medical College: Master of Science in Biomedical Data Science.
Her interdisciplinary background allows her to integrate creative, technical, and analytical approaches across teaching, research, and student engagement.
Teaching & Research Interests
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Fashion & Textiles: Fashion merchandising, product development, textiles, apparel quality, sustainability, footwear design and development, and consumer/human behavior.
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Emerging Technologies: Application of data science and digital technologies—including 3D apparel design and visualization—to apparel education, research, and product development.
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Footwear Research: Footwear design and research for individuals with diabetes and high-performing athletes, focusing on how design, materials, fit, function, comfort, and performance can be informed by human-centered and data-driven approaches.
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Health & Biomedical Data Science: Interdisciplinary health research including predictive modeling and medical imaging applications for bone health, as well as imaging-based approaches for tracking changes in bone and tissue over time.
Experiential Learning & Professional Experience
Dr. Davis is committed to experiential learning, connecting classroom instruction with real-world experiences through research, textile exploration, industry collaborations, and community-based projects.
Her professional experiences include:
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Novartis Beacon of Hope Fellow in Translational Medicine and Imaging Data Science.
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Systems Analysis Engineering Intern at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Leadership & Vision
As Interim Chair of the Department of Human Sciences, Dr. Davis supports academic programs in:
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Child Development and Family Studies
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Fashion Merchandising and Product Development
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Food and Nutritional Sciences
Her leadership focuses on strengthening student engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, industry/community partnerships, and positioning students for graduate education and the workforce. Through her work, Dr. Davis seeks to advance a contemporary vision of Human Sciences centered on understanding people across the lifecycle and the behaviors that shape how they live, eat, engage with fashion and textiles, and navigate everyday life.