Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Strategic Plan

Helping Texans Thrive

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Strategic Plan builds upon our values and mission to focus on our strengths and utilize innovative technology to serve many Texans in impactful and lasting ways.

Mission

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service works daily to make Texas better by providing innovative solutions at the intersection of agriculture, natural resources, youth and health, thereby improving the well-being of individuals, families, businesses and communities through education and service.

Vision Statement

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be the leader in providing science-based information and solutions in agriculture and health to every Texan.

Shared Values

We value People, Programs and Partnerships.

Download the Strategic Plan

More information on the partnerships built through the Coordinated Program Areas is coming soon.

Steering Committees

Employee Recognition Program Steering Committee

The Employee Recognition Steering Committee has been formed to provide guidance to help shape a formal program that will be used to identify and recognize outstanding performance by agency personnel.

Steering Committee Members:
•Tearney Woodruff, Organizational Development
•Larry Stein, Horticulture
•Bill Holcombe, District 3
•Denita Young, 4-H Faculty
•Jana Osborn, South Region
•Sarah Brod, District 4
•Stacy Drury
•Payton Keifer, District 6
•Lynette Babcock, District 3
•Megan Glidden, District 11
•Rusty Hohlt, Healthy Texas
•Dean McCorkle, AgEco
•Cory Hundl, District 9
•Caitlin Frederick, District 2
•Karan Heffelfinger, District 6
•Calvin Trostle, District 2
•Whitney Grantham, District 8
•Mark Waller, AgEco

Fostering Diversity Steering Committee

•Texas is rapidly growing and diversifying. It is important that Extension’s workforce be effective in communicating with all Texans. To do so, we must assess the diversity of our personnel so that we connect with a diverse Texas. This steering committee will provide guidance on assessing the agency’s workforce, the needs of Texans, and how to fill any gaps that may be identified in that process. This committee’s work will address both recruitment and retention of employees and will look to answer questions such as (1) how can we ensure that we recruit diverse pools of candidates for our positions and (2) how do we ensure that the agency welcomes all employees so that we are positioned to retain them?

Steering Committee Members:
•Chrissie Segars
•Cecelia Monclova, District 2
•Kelli Issacks, Director’s Office
•Sonja Stuart-Davis, District 9
•Carissa Wilhelm, District 4
•Chelsea Bishop Smith, District 9
•Michelle Wright, District 11
•Lakshmi Mahadevan, District 9
•Truman Lamb,
•Mario Villarino, District 4
•Denise Rodriguez, District 6
•Julie Prouse, Food and Nutrition

Volunteer Steering Committee

AgriLife Extension has a vast volunteer network that helps identify issues, plan, and deliver programs and serve as advocates for the agency. Working with volunteers is part of the job for many – if not most – in the agency, and it is important that the proper tools and resources are made available to Extension employees as they manage, lead, and engage volunteers. This steering committee will help create:
– A strategy to recruit and utilize volunteers and develop a tool for reporting how volunteers are utilized and implement programs for each coordinated program area.
– Help develop a system to recruit, approve, organize, and retain volunteers.
– Develop tools to report and measure hours and impacts of volunteers.
– Engage in establishing plans to ensure that each volunteer has the needed training, orientation to extension and the branded materials needed to provide educational programs on behalf of the agency.

Steering Committee Members:
•Brittany Martin, District 4
•Karen Lyssy, District 11
•Michael Potter, District 9
•Jay Kingston, District 3
•Erin Davis, District 8
•Jessica Richards, District 4
•Tina Hicks, District 1
•Linda Wasserman, District 11
•Heather Simpson, District 3
•Brandi Keller, District 9
•Dana Tarter, Central Region
•Laura Huebinger, 4-H Youth Development
•Jayla Fry, Horticulture
•Andy Crocker, Family & Community Health
•Mary Pearl Meuth, Rangeland Wildlife & Fisheries

Housing of Physical Resources Steering Committee

This group is charged with creating a strategic approach to address space needs. This group will identify current and future needs, potential solutions and next steps to the housing of physical resources and their most efficient access to employees.

Steering Committee Members:
•Rebel Royall, District 6
•Janet Hurley, District 4
•Robert Dolson, District 6
•Derrick Bruton, 4-H & Youth Development
•Lee Dudley, District 5
•Renda Nelson, BLT
•Larry Hysmith, 4-H & Youth Development
•Monty Dozier, DAR
•John Park, AgEco

Planning for Financial and Operational Success Steering Committee (Appointed)

Extension educators provide training and educational resources across the state to diverse audiences. This steering committee is to provide guidance in using innovative agency tools that will assist our network of experts throughout the state in managing workshops and conferencing activities through leveraging agency resources.

Steering Committee Members:
•Larry Pierce, District 4 and 5
•Lorrie Coop, District 3
•Josh Brooks, District 1
•Emily Grant, District 6
•Norma Munoz, District 11
•Angie Nors, Hill County
•Stacy Drury, District 6 and 7
•Kay Schubert, Administrative Services

Projected Timeline:

Implementation for Coordinated Program Areas

April 2021

Initiation

Form and launch Steering Committee to guide the launch of CPAs

Identify pilot Coordinated Program Areas

April 2021

May 2021

Preparation

Identify personnel in pilot Coordinated Program Areas

Steering Committee begins to identify steps for CPA launch

May 2021

June 2021

CPA Kickoffs

Personnel working in pilot Coordinated
Program Areas attend kickoff events to understand the vision and goals of CPAs

June 2021

July – August 2021

Defining the Process

Steering Committee defines processes for issue identification, product review, and cataloging of products

Personnel working in pilot Coordinated Program Areas collect input from local stakeholders about issues to address

July – August 2021

August – October 2021

Forums

Regional and State CPA Forums are held (in person and virtually) to identify issues and begin exploring strategies for addressing them across the state

August – October 2021

November 2021

Master Plan Development

CPAs craft a Master Plan to guide the work of that area in response to the issues identified in Regional and State Forums. Master Plans will include a resource inventory, personnel training needs, and evaluation tools and strategies.

November 2021

Winter 2021

Feedback and Preparation

Collect feedback from personnel working in Coordinated Program Areas

Prepare for launch of new CPA’s in 2022

Winter 2021

Spring 2022

Implementation

Pilot CPAs begin implementing their Master Plan

New CPAs are identified

Spring 2022

What are Coordinated Program Areas (CPAs)?

A Coordinated Program Area (CPA) in AgriLife Extension describes a group of programmatic personnel working on issues or a set of issues who collaborate and share resources to maximize their collective impact. 

Coordinated Program Areas help us identify and organize existing products/educational resources (publications, courses, and programs) within their subject matter area and collaborate on the creation of new ones. Additionally, they are building a road map for future program efforts, which includes developing strategies (people, programs, and partnerships) for the most effective way to address the issues facing Texans through education.

CPA Pilot Goals:

By the end of the pilot phase, we hope to accomplish the following:

Examine the issues, trends and topics related to the Coordinated Program Area and prioritize issues and topics for Extension to address.
Identify, review, and catalogue existing educational products and activities in response to issues, trends, and topics.
Examine ways to better coordinate solutions to issues across the state.
Create a Master Plan for future program direction, including product development, personnel training, strategies for program evaluation and measuring the agency’s collective impact.
Establish best practices for the formation of CPAs and create a plan for future implementation.

Identified Coordinated Program Area Coordinators

Active Living, Dr. Mark Faries
Food Safety, Rebecca Dittmar
Youth Family & Community Health: Dr. Julie Gardner
Youth Science, Technology, Engineering & Math: Derrick Bruton
Beef Cattle Ranching: Dr. Parr Rosson
Cotton: Dr. Parr Rosson
Urban Commercial Ag/Green Industry: Dr. Mengmeng Gu

Monthly Webinar Archive:

August 2021

Panel discussing the challenges and successes we are seeing as we strive to serve more Texans than ever before.

Introduction: Roel Lopez, Director, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute

Panel guests include:

Natalie Cervantes, County Extension Agent, 4-H and Youth Development, Bexar County

Jayla Fry, Program Specialist, State Coordinator, Texas Master Gardener Program

Amy Ressler, County Extension Agent, Family and Community Health, Montgomery County

Sayako Seymour, County Extension Agent, Prairie View A&M CEP, 4-H and Youth Development, Bexar County

Ricky Thompson, County Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nacodoches County

July 2021

Panel discussing the growing urban opportunities and how COVID-19 has changed the way we are serving all Texans

Moderator: Jeff Ripley

Panel guests include:

David Wright, Extension Director, Harris County

David Anderson, Professor and Agricultural Economist

Tom Guthrie, County Agent, Mills County

Lisa Whittlesey, Extension Program Specialist andInternational Junior Master Gardener Program Coordinator

Paul Winski, County Extension Agent, Horticulture, Harris County

June 2021

DAR Unit’s COVID-19 Response – Monty Dozier and panel of guests share stories of impact across the state

Coordinated Program Area Update: Dan Hale

DAR Introduction: Angela Burkham

DAR Panel guests include:

Curtis Preston, District 2 Extension Agent
Jeff Fant, District 7 Extension Agent
Raylene Pennington, District 8 Extension Agent
Will Stevens, District 9 Extension Agent
Miquela Smith, Extension Program Specialist

May 2021

Spotlight on Active Living and an overview of AgriLife Extension professional organizations

Active Living Intro: Courtney Dodd

Stephen Green, Ph.D., FCH Unit Leader
Mark Faries, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Extension Specialist, FCH Unit
Michael Lopez, Extension Program Specialist, FCH Unit

Professional Organization Intro: Jeff Ripley

J.R. Sprague TCAA
Amy Varnado TAE4-HA
Liz Espie TEAFCS
Greg Kaase TESA
Jheri-Lynn McSwain ESP

Helping Texans Thrive

Mission

Vision Statement

Shared Values

Steering Committees

Projected Timeline:

Implementation for Coordinated Program Areas

Initiation

Preparation

CPA Kickoffs

Defining the Process

Forums

Master Plan Development

Feedback and Preparation

Implementation

What are Coordinated Program Areas (CPAs)?

CPA Pilot Goals:

Identified Coordinated Program Area Coordinators

Monthly Webinar Archive:

August 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

Implementation & Goals Webinar: April 7th, 2021

Introduction Webinar: March 5th, 2021