DALLAS — Jalyn Burkett, currently Tarrant County director for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, has been named District Extension Director-Family and Consumer Sciences for the North Texas District comprising 22 counties in the Dallas- Fort Worth area.
Burkett assumes her new position Feb. 1 at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Dallas. She will provide leadership for Extension’s efforts in family and consumer sciences as well as working cooperatively with the Extension director for agriculture in developing Extension outreach programs to serve the needs of citizens in the area.
“The Dallas Center is a real plum–I believe it can become a window to the state and nation for the Extension Service and the Texas A&M System,” said Burkett. “Marketing will be one of my main focal points, not only in family and consumer sciences but for our entire program. And, I look forward to being a part of the management team in Dallas.”
Burkett served Tarrant County for 20 years, becoming county director in 1991. She helped initiate the annual Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering in Fort Worth that celebrates the original cowboy way of life.
“Jalyn’s talent in marketing and promotion will be a boost to this center,” said Randy Upshaw, district Extension director- agriculture, who will share Extension management responsibilities with Burkett. “Not only does she bring a full appreciation of the day-to- day operations in county Extension programs, but she also has the ability to work comfortably with a wide range of people in the community at every level of management.”
Burkett holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in home economics from North Texas State University and Northern Arizona University, respectively. Her 29-year career with the Extension Service began in Wilson County and continued in Upton/Reagan and Travis counties before she came to Tarrant County in 1977.
Burkett is a member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and served as vice president for the Texas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She is a member of the Greater Tarrant County Hotel Association and has served as president and vice president of the Fort Worth Farm and Ranch Club. In addition, she was awarded the Extension Superior Service Award and the Deputy Chancellor’s Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Texas A&M University.
