Faculty Profiles

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Dr. Merritt Drewery

  • Associate Professor - Department of Agricultural Sciences
Portrait of Dr. Merritt Drewery

Biography and expertise

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. She was promoted to Associate Professor in fall 2025.

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Nutrition and Food Sciences

Louisiana State Univ A&M College, 2017

Master's Degree

MS in Animal Science

Texas A&M University, 2012

Bachelor's Degree

BS in Animal Science

Texas A&M University, 2010

Research Interests

  • Shi, Xijun (Principal), Drewery, Merritt L (Co-Principal), Liu, Xiangping (Co-Principal), Alkire, Linda (Co-Principal). Utilization of Agricultural Wastes in Sustainable Concrete, Multi-disciplinary Internal Research Grant (MIRG), Texas State University, $29980. (Submitted: February 2022, Funded: 2022). Grant.
  • 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: June 2023 - May 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, 2026). 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, 2026). 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, 2026). Grant.
View all grants
  • 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).
  • Lopez, A., Jimenez, E., Valles Molina, D., & Drewery, M. L. (2026). Developing Intelligent Models to Detect and Classify Cattle Behavior on Pasture. Animals. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16162617
  • Fukuda, E., Suter, J., Jessup, R., & Drewery, M. L. (2025). Diet acceptance and utilization responses to increasing doses of thymol in beef steers consuming forage. Animals, 15(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15243637
  • Garcia, V., Brandao, A., Wickersham, T., & Drewery, M. L. (2025). Experiential learning improves college student perceived understanding and strengthens their perceptions of the beef industry. Translational Animal Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaf151
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College of Science & Engineering Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities, College of Science & Engineering, Texas State University. August 2025
  • 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: Millionaire's Club, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University. August 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor, Alpha Chi Honor Society. 2024
View all awards
  1. Member

    College of Science and Enginerring (COSE) 60th Anniversary Planning Committee

  2. Chair

    Curriculum Committee

  3. Board Member

    Main Street Advisory Board (San Marcos City Council)

  4. Chair

    Governance Committee

  5. Volunteer

    Eyes of the San Marcos River

  6. Reviewer / Referee

    Translational Animal Science

  7. View all activities