Megan Gandy

(she/they)

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Dr. Gandy’s primary research interest is in the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, pansexual, non-binary, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) people. Her research in this area spans from macro issues such as community level risk/protective factors to specific micro issues such as practitioner competency and faith community support, including issues relevant from childhood through adulthood. Dr. Gandy is also interested in the application of immersive technologies (such as virtual reality) to social work workforce development, curriculum, research, and practice. Her original project, Play Higher (https://playhigher.wvu.edu), sets a new precedent for social work outreach with middle and high school students. Dr. Gandy’s career includes 6 years of clinical work, over 15 years of advocacy work, and over 19 years of social work education and research work. Their research interests stem from her 6 years of clinical practice in the field of community mental health where she earned her LCSW credential and practiced with children, adolescents, adults, the elderly, and families in contexts that included inpatient, residential, and in-home based. Their commitment to community-led research stems from her ongoing work with activist communities and with grassroots and advocacy organizations. Dr. Gandy participates in grassroots and locally organized efforts for a wide variety of social justice initiatives and regularly volunteers her time with such organizations. Dr. Gandy’s teaching philosophy uses a student-centered approach and incorporates aspects of transformative learning, constructivist pedagogy, anti-oppressive practice, social justice, and diversity. Dr. Gandy embraces emerging technologies, and integrates technology into her teaching formats when appropriate.

Experience

  • 2019–present
    Associate Professor of Social Work, West Virginia University
  • 2015–2019
    Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Oklahoma

Education

  • 2015 
    Virginia Commonwealth University, Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.)
  • 2009 
    University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Master of Social Work (MSW)
  • 2004 
    Lenoir-Rhyne University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA)

Publications

  • 2026
    LGBTQ+ individuals’ mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. , Sexual and Gender Diversity in Social Services
  • 2025
    “Pink is my least favorite color”: Experiences of sexual minority women and caregivers navigating breast cancer survivorship. , Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
  • 2024
    Looking for a home: How LGBTQ+ people discern their faith community choice. , Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services
  • 2023
    Faithful foundations: Positive experiences of transgender and gender expansive individuals in faith communities. , Mental Health, Religion, & Culture
  • 2021
    We shared a heartbeat”: Protective functions of faith communities in the lives of LGBTQ+ people., Spirituality in Clinical Practice
  • 2021
    Trans*forming access and care in rural areas: A community-engaged approach. , nternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
  • 2018
    The Queer Youth Cultural Competency (QYCC) scale: Measuring competency in direct-care behavioral health workers. , Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services
  • 2018
    Understanding engagement in the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) from the perspectives of individuals receiving treatment., Social Work in Mental Health
  • 2016
    Using Facebook as a tool for informal peer support: A case example. , Social Work Education
  • 2013
    Service providers’ attitudes toward LGBTQ youth. , Residential Treatment for Children and Youth

Professional Memberships

  • Council on Social Work Education

Contact Megan for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision