Biography and education
Dr. Drewery received her BS and MS from Texas A&M University in Animal Science, then received a PhD in Human Nutrition from Louisiana State University. She spent two years in the dairy industry in upstate New York before returning to Texas in 2019 as an Assistant Professor in Animal Science in the Department of Agricultural Sciences.
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Mast, Natasha, Jimenez, Esbal, Loest, Clint, Drewery, Merritt L, DeYoung, Randal, Chatelain-Jardon, R, Feliciano, M, Hernandez, J, Norris-Parish, S. LEADING Hispanics to Federal Agency Employment (LEADING: Leading and Enhancing Agricultural Development in the Next Generation), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal, $20000000. (Funded: September 2023 - August 2028). Grant.
- Drewery, Merritt L (Principal), Cade, Tina Marie (Co-Principal). Mentorship and Promotion of Women in Agriculture (MPOWA), USDA Women and Minorities in Science, Federal, $100000. (Funded: September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2025). Grant.
- Racelis, Alexis (Principal), Drewery, Merritt L (Co-Principal), Mix, Kenneth D (Co-Principal), Gabler, Christoper (Co-Principal), Rugg, Savannah (Co-Principal), Baldillo, I (Co-Principal), Cantu, J. South Texas Agriculture Roadmap for Training, Research, Experiential Learning, and Careers (STARTREC) in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, USDA HSI Education Grants Program, Federal, $975314. (Submitted: January 2021, Funded: September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2025). Grant.
- Drewery, Merritt L (Principal), Anderson, Ryan Gerald (Co-Principal). Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, & Mathematics: integrating scientific inquiry in curriculum for pre-service Agricultural Education teachers (STEAM-AGED), USDA HSI Education Grants Program, Federal, $275000. (Submitted: January 2021, Funded: September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2025). Grant.
- Drewery, Merritt L (Principal), Wickersham, Tryon A. Black soldier fly larvae as a protein source for cattle consuming forage, USDA, Federal, $200000. (Submitted: March 2020, Funded: July 2021 - July 2023). Grant.

Featured scholarly/creative works
- Drewery, M. L., & Hustvedt, G. (2024). Consumer support for hemp by-products as food and feed. Journal of Natural Fibers.
- Boyer, H. L., Wagner, N. C., & Drewery, M. L. (2023). Effectiveness of mycorrhizae and vermicompost seed inoculation for germination, vegetative growth, cannabinoid content, and cured flower weight of CBD-rich hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research, 3(1).
- Kenchanna, D., (Waliczek) Cade, T. M., & Drewery, M. L. (2025). DETERMINING THE SUITABILITY OF INCORPORATING BLACK SOLDIER FLY FRASS IN THE PRODUCTION OF A QUALITY COMPOST. Fermentation, 10(12), 613. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10120613
- Barrett, M., Drewery, M. L., & Fischer, B. (2025). Entomologists’ Knowledge of, and Attitudes Towards, Insect Welfare in Research and Education.
- Lopez, A., Valles Molina, D., & Drewery, M. L. (2025). Developing and Validating Artificial Intelligence Models to Predict Cattle Behavior, Movement, and Emotion. Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf170.094
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: College of Applied Arts Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities, College of Applied Arts, Texas State University. August 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: College of Applied Arts Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities, College of Applied Arts, Texas State University. August 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor, Alpha Chi Honor Society. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Millionaire's Club, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University. August 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities, Texas State University. August 2023

Featured service activities
- Member
Search Committee Member for Assistant Professor in Animal Science
- Other
Search Committee Member for Open Rank Professor, Department of Biology
- Board Member
Main Street Advisory Board (San Marcos City Council)
- Member
Curriculum Committee
- Chair
Governance Committee
- Volunteer
Eyes of the San Marcos River