AgriLife Extension names new district administrator in South Texas
Andrea Valdez brings leadership in educational program impact, community engagement to role
Andrea Valdez, Ph.D., has been appointed as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service district administrator over 20 counties in District 12, headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, effective Dec. 1.
Valdez has 13 years of experience as an AgriLife Extension family and community health agent and 4-H coordinator in Hidalgo County, where she led impactful initiatives such as Healthy South Texas programs and emergency preparedness efforts.
Additionally, as the county administrator, she strengthened AgriLife Extension’s relationship with the Hidalgo County government and elected officials.
“I am honored to step into this leadership role and excited to support our agents as they deliver programs that truly make a difference in South Texas communities,” Valdez said. “My focus will be empowering our agents with resources, fostering collaboration and ensuring that our educational efforts continue to improve lives across District 12.”
Experience in county programming
Valdez is a certified culinary medicine professional and has spent much of her career educating the community on health, chronic disease prevention, mental wellness and healthy living. She has championed programs such as Dinner Tonight Healthy Cooking School, Cooking Well with Diabetes and the Stress Less with Mindfulness program.
In 2021, Valdez launched the Cooking School for Emergencies program in partnership with Hidalgo County. The initiative was later adopted statewide as Dinner Tonight-Emergency Preparedness and earned national recognition as a Community Partnership award winner from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
“Andrea’s experience, programming success and dedication will contribute to the position and make her a valuable addition to the South Region leadership team,” said Donald Kelm, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension associate director for county operations. “She will recruit and supervise our agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, and Texas 4-H youth development agents throughout the district.”
Valdez holds a bachelor’s in biology from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, a master’s in public health from Texas A&M University School of Public Health in College Station, and her Doctorate in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University.
