Meg Patterson

Meg Patterson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the School of Public Health, Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on the intersection of social network analysis (SNA) and health outcomes, examining how social structures influence individual and community well-being.

Education

• PhD in Health Education (2016), Texas A&M University
• MPH in Community Health (2012), Baylor University
• BA in Psychology (2009), Baylor University

Meg’s research interests include social network analysis, social connectedness, and community health. She investigates how network properties affect physical activity, diabetes management, addiction recovery, and mental health, particularly among marginalized populations.

Her recent publications emphasize social network impacts on health behaviors, with 2025 articles covering topics like adolescent psychological distress, type 2 diabetes communication patterns, and gamified health interventions. These works highlight interdisciplinary methodologies combining SNA with behavioral epidemiology.

Scientific Awards

• ASCEND Research Leadership Fellow (2023)
• Fellow, American Academy of Health Behavior (2022)
• Faculty Climate Award, Texas A&M (2019)
• NIRSA Foundation President’s Award (2018)
• “To Light the Ways” Award, Baylor (2018)

Meg mentors undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in SNA applications while serving on university committees and advisory boards. She has developed graduate-level SNA courses and delivered workshops at conferences like the American Public Health Association and NIH.