FORT WORTH – Dana Tarter has been named Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service central region program leader for family and consumer sciences. She had been AgriLife Extension Tarrant County director since December 2008.
“Dana has demonstrated excellence within every role she has served in AgriLife Extension,” said Dr. Susan Ballabina, AgriLife Extension associate director for program development. “Her background and experiences in counties, from rural to urban, give her a unique perspective and framework, which will be critical as she works with the agents in the Central Region.”
As regional program leader, Tarter will provide leadership, support and direction to AgriLife Extension agents in almost 50 counties from the northern Texas border around Wichita Falls to near Austin, Ballabina noted. Tarter will also be responsible for acquiring resources and building partnerships to support program priorities.
Ballabina said Tarter is “known for her creativity and innovation.” She helped develop the Master Wellness Volunteer Program and the Dinner Tonight Program, both of which started at the county level but evolved to become banner programs for the agency.
She was Tarrant County’s agent for nutrition and health from August 2001-December 2008. Tarter has served as an AgriLife Extension agent — in Howard, Wichita, Mitchell and Kaufman counties — since November 1987.
Tarter earned a bachelor’s of science in 1986 and a master’s degree in public health in 2005, both from the University of North Texas. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in family studies.
-30-