Andrew McNeely

Assistant Professor - Sociology

I am a sociologist focusing on the connections between the macro and the micro, where ideology informs behaviors, culture manifests as action, and structure shapes interactions.

+1 (972) 883-3061
GR 2.114
Personal website
ORCID

Currently accepting undergraduate and graduate students

Professional Preparation

PhD - Sociology
Texas A&M University - 2022

Research Areas

My major research areas include food insecurity, religion, and race in the United States. More specifically, I research topics such as

Religious practices and ideological commitments in community-based organizations
Food assistance programs, charitable food provision organizations, and hunger interventions
Religio-racial identities
Behavioral and public health practices at the community level

Publications

Cultivating connection between community, agriculture, food, and green space: A narrative review of agrihoods and their impact on health and wellbeing 2026 - Journal Article

Cultivating connection between community, agriculture, food, and green space: A narrative review of agrihoods and their impact on health and wellbeing 2025 - Journal Article

“You Can’t Just Give People Food”: Whiteness in Practice at an Evangelical Food Pantry 2025 - Journal Article

“You Can’t Just Give People Food”: Whiteness in Practice at an Evangelical Food Pantry 2024 - Journal Article

The role of the community cafe in addressing food security: Perceptions of managers and directors 2024 - Journal Article

A qualitative exploration of the health needs and goals of urban women to inform the tailoring and adaptation of Strong Hearts Healthy Communities: a community-based cardiovascular disease prevention intervention 2024 - Journal Article

"You Can't Just Give People Food": Whiteness in Practice at an Evangelical Food Pantry (may, srae018, 2024) 2024 - Journal Article

"You Can't Just Give People Food": Whiteness in Practice at an Evangelical Food Pantry 2024 - Journal Article

Appointments

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Texas A&M AgriLife Research [2023–2025]

Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [2025–Present]

Projects

The pay-what-you-can cafe model: a new approach to hunger relief in the U.S.

This research consists of several interrelated studies from sociology and public health that investigates the features of the novel community cafe model, its effects on food insecurity and diet quality, and its role in the overall landscape of charitable food provision in the U.S.

Client Choice food pantry model implementation assessment in Dallas

This project aims to assess the use, awareness, and perception of the client choice model of food pantry among Dallas-area food pantry staff and volunteers, with the goal of creating implementation strategies to facilitate organizational restructuring to use the choice model.

News Articles

Impact of SNAP benefits ending in North Texas

Dr. McNeely provides context on the November 2025 SNAP interruption and information on how to provide and locate assistance