Andrea S. Richardson

Andrea S. Richardson is a Professor at the RAND School of Public Policy and a Senior Policy Researcher at RAND. Her work bridges public health, epidemiology, and policy, with a focus on health equity and social determinants of health. She is based in Pittsburgh, PA, and her research spans national and urban contexts, particularly in underserved communities.

Education:

• B.S. in Mathematics, University of Chicago
• M.P.H. in Epidemiology, Emory University
• Ph.D. in Nutrition Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Her research interests center on the interplay between environment (built and social), behaviors, biology (genetics), and health disparities. She investigates how neighborhood disinvestment, food insecurity, school policies, and social injustice contribute to inequities in obesity, nutrition, and chronic disease. Her methodological expertise includes longitudinal analysis, structural equation modeling, and population-based research.

An analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend in evaluating policy interventions related to food access, school nutrition, neighborhood investment, and health equity. Her work often employs large datasets and mixed methods to assess real-world impacts of public programs like SNAP and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. She also explores genetic and psychosocial factors influencing health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Scientific Awards:
None listed in the provided text.

Richardson has not been mentioned as advising students in the provided material. Her research is supported by RAND and often involves interdisciplinary teams focused on community health, urban development, and policy evaluation. She has contributed to numerous studies assessing the impact of supermarkets in food deserts, park use, sleep health, and school-based wellness programs.

Labs and Teams:
She is part of RAND’s Social and Economic Well-Being research division, contributing to projects on community health, food security, and health disparities. Her work is often collaborative, involving teams from RAND and external institutions.