Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Brenda Rue, 432-336-8585, b-rue@tamu.edu
FORT STOCKTON – Brenda Rue, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service district administrator for Far West Texas, will retire effective March 27.
She has served in her current role in AgriLife Extension’s Far West District 6 since 2000.
As an AgriLife Extension administrator, she has been responsible for one of 12 districts across the state where she handled staffing, professional development and management of AgriLife Extension agents in the district’s 23 counties of Far West Texas. She also served as a liaison with county commissioners’ courts, key leaders and state and federal elected officials.
Rue began her career with the agency as an AgriLife Extension agent in home economics in San Saba County in 1986. In 1988 she transferred to Andrews County as the AgriLife Extension agent for family and consumer sciences, a post she held for 11 years. She then moved to Ector County serving for a year as the family and consumer sciences agent before being promoted to her final position with the agency at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Center at Fort Stockton.
Rue earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University in home economics and personal and family financial management, respectively.
Prior to joining AgriLife Extension, she taught home economics in the public school system, worked as a social worker for protective and family services for the Texas Department of Human Resources and also served as a health educator for the Lubbock City Health Department and as a center director for the Big Spring State Hospital Outreach Services.
She is an active member of Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the National Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She has served in many leadership roles including president of the Texas Extension Association for Family Consumer Sciences. She also is the recipient of the organization’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award.
Rue plans to retire on family ranch property she owns near Fredonia.
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