
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.
More information on the partnerships built through the Coordinated Program Areas is coming soon.
Steering Committees
Projected Timeline:
Implementation for Coordinated Program Areas
Initiation
Form and launch Steering Committee to guide the launch of CPAs
Identify pilot Coordinated Program Areas
Preparation
Identify personnel in pilot Coordinated Program Areas
Steering Committee begins to identify steps for CPA launch
CPA Kickoffs
Personnel working in pilot Coordinated
Program Areas attend kickoff events to understand the vision and goals of CPAs
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
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
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.
Feedback and Preparation
Collect feedback from personnel working in Coordinated Program Areas
Prepare for launch of new CPA’s in 2022
Implementation
Pilot CPAs begin implementing their Master Plan
New CPAs are identified
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