A woman, Molly Forman, in a flowered shirt against a gray background.
Molly Forman has been named as the North Region Program Leader for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

Molly Forman has started in her new position as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service regional program leader for family and community health/4-H youth development in the North Region, according to Courtney Dodd, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension associate director – health, families and youth.

As of Feb. 21, Forman began serving the 41 counties across the agency’s District 1, headquartered in Amarillo, and District 2, headquartered in Lubbock. She will have an office at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock and in Amarillo.

A native of Silverton, Forman was an active 4-Her. She earned a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science and a master’s degree in agriculture education from Texas Tech University. She joined AgriLife Extension in 2009 and has been serving as the family and community health agent for Briscoe and Hall counties.

Making a difference

Forman said she is looking forward to the opportunity to work with agents across the region.

“My goal is to provide agents the tools to be successful, whether they are working with youth or adult audiences,” she said. “Every county varies, and I want to help agents build programs that fit their counties and the people who live in them.”

She said the diversity of the region is growing and the dynamics of families are changing, which means programs constantly need to be reevaluated.

“I want to be sure we are meeting the needs of our audience,” she said. “Times change; we always need to make sure our programs can adapt and change in order to adequately serve the people of the region.”

Agent activities

Dodd said Forman maintained a well-rounded educational program as an agent and effectively managed her time to maximize impacts for both youth and adults. She was a critical resource to residents of both counties she served.

Forman has implemented health and wellness education, including the Better Living for Texans educational series, Learn, Grow, Eat, Go!, food handlers certification, agricultural literacy programs, financial literacy, Shattered Dreams, Ag Day and the 4-H Food and Nutrition Project.

She has been awarded two Superior Service Awards and two Vice Chancellor’s Awards of Excellence in recognition of her programmatic efforts involving health and wellness. These programs addressed the needs of residents across a wide range of ages and backgrounds.