Rebecca O'Connell

Professor Rebecca O'Connell is a leading academic in the field of food studies, focusing on the social, cultural, and economic determinants of family diets, particularly among marginalized groups. She holds a professorship at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Health and Social Work, within the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care. Additionally, she is a Visiting Professor at UCL Institute of Education's Thomas Coram Research Unit.

Her research explores food inequalities, policy impacts on children and families, and mixed-methods approaches. Key projects include studies on food provision in special schools (Adapt-Ed project), cross-European analyses of food poverty (Families and Food in Hard Times), and policy advocacy through her role as Chair of School Food Matters. Funders include the ESRC, ERC, and Public Health England.

Education includes a PhD in Social Anthropology from UCL (2008), an MA in TV Documentary (Goldsmiths, 2001), and earlier degrees in Social Anthropology. Her work bridges academic research with policy engagement, emphasizing practical solutions to food insecurity.

Recent grants include NIHR funding for special school food interventions. Collaborations span Norway, Portugal, and Denmark, with a focus on comparative approaches to food policy and family practices.