COLLEGE STATION — Dr. Jeff Ripley has been approved as interim Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service associate director for county programs byTexas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, effective Dec. 1, pending final approval by the system’s Board of Regents in February.
Ripley, associate professor and AgriLife Extension organizational development specialist since 2009, will headquarter in College Station.
“As a former county agent, I have the utmost respect for our employees who conduct adult education and handle 4-H and youth development programs in every county of this state,” Ripley said. “I look forward to helping lead AgriLife Extension into the future as the agency fulfills its mission throughout Texas as it has for more than 100 years.”
Ripley will serve as part of the administrative team led by Dr. Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director.
“Jeff is an AgriLife Extension educator who is a recognized leader in our agency. Previously having served as a county agent, county director, district administrator and specialist provides Jeff with a tremendous background to lead our county operations,” Steele said. “We look forward to his contributions to our leadership team as we continue to build on the foundation of AgriLife Extension outreach and educational programming in the state of Texas.”
“I am very happy that Dr. Ripley will take on the important role as our agency’s associate director for county programs,” said Dr. Jim Cathey of College Station, who chaired the search. “The job will be challenging, but with his background and experiences from both rural and urban counties, he is uniquely equipped to make smart decisions and will undoubtedly be a great ambassador for AgriLife Extension.”
Ripley has provided primary oversight and support to the programming and staffing development efforts of the organizational development unit. He also coordinates onboarding efforts for new employees and the collection of impacts for the agency’s strategic plan.
Previously, Ripley served as the district Extension administrator in Corpus Christi where he coordinated AgriLife Extension programs in 18 Coastal Bend counties and supervised about 60 AgriLife Extension county agents.
He served as a county agent and director for Travis County for more than seven years, and was county agent for 11 years in four Texas counties.
Ripley earned a bachelor’s in agribusiness from Tarleton State University, master’s in agricultural education from Texas State University and a doctorate in agricultural education from Texas A&M University.
He has received numerous awards and recognition from the agency and external partners and organizations, most recently receiving the Superior Service Award for Extension Specialist and was a member of the Evaluation Team Award, both in 2014.
Ripley and his wife Tina have four children and live in Franklin.
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