Carroll selected as AgriLife Extension 4-H, youth development specialist for District 6
Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Courtney Dodd, 979-845-1211, cfdodd@ag.tamu.edu
Rebel Royall, 432-336-8585, rebel.royall@ag.tamu.edu
FORT STOCKTON — Amber Carroll will be the new Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 4-H and youth development specialist for the agency’s 23-county District 6 starting June 1.
Carroll is currently the AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resource agent for Culberson County, where she provides leadership in implementing educational programs to address critical issues and emerging needs for county residents.
As district specialist, Carroll will be located at District 6 headquarters at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Fort Stockton. Her duties will include districtwide oversight of 4-H programs and activities, providing training and guidance to the district’s 4-H and youth development agents, and helping grow overall 4-H membership and volunteer/community support.
“Amber will provide a unique perspective in that she has worked with 4-H programming in both urban and rural settings,” said AgriLife Extension District 6 administrator Rebel Royall. “She has also worked for both Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program and AgriLife Extension, so she is familiar with both of those agencies and their programming.”
The Texas 4-H program is the youth development component of AgriLife Extension and is administered statewide through AgriLife Extension.
Royall said Carroll also has broad experience with both traditional and non-traditional 4-H programming.
“Amber has been very involved in STEM programs in El Paso County as well as the more typical livestock and agriculture programs,” he said. “This makes her a particularly qualified person to take on the responsibility of district 4-H and youth development specialist.”
Dr. Courtney Dodd, assistant director for the 4-H Youth Development Program, College Station, is the Texas 4-H program leader and Carroll’s direct supervisor.
“The Texas 4-H Youth Development Program is pleased to have Amber join the unit and serve in District 6,” Dodd said. “Amber brings with her a well-rounded perspective of youth programming. She also understands the support that county Extension agents will need as we continue to reach our programmatic goals of growing the 4-H program and engaging more youth.”
Carroll earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and extension education from New Mexico State University and is pursuing a master’s degree in animal science from Sul Ross State University.
Prior to becoming the agriculture and natural resources agent in Culberson County, Carroll was the AgriLife Extension 4-H and youth development agent for El Paso County. In that role, she was responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating youth development and education programs. She also identified, recruited and trained local adult volunteers, developed short- and long-term measurable goals to effectively evaluate and grow the El Paso County 4-H program, and developed relationships with community members and stakeholders to increase AgriLife Extension’s outreach in El Paso County.
Before coming to AgriLife Extension, Carroll was a 4-H and youth development agent with Prairie View A&M University’s Cooperative Extension Program in El Paso County. There she provided leadership for programs supporting 4-H and youth development; marketed and interpreted program results to stakeholders; and worked with community-based organizations to broaden 4-H and youth development opportunities.
“I’m excited about starting the new position,” Carroll said. “I’m looking forward to helping 4-H and youth development agents throughout the district improve and expand their programs and be successful in their community involvement. There will be a mix of traditional and non-traditional 4-H programming in the district, and I want to do whatever I can to increase program engagement and help build 4-H programs district-wide.”
