Creating Healthy Communities in Rural Areas

Valerie is an experienced program manager specializing in large-scale public health projects that enhance systems specifically related to food access and physical activity. She is proficient in developing and implementing evidence-based planning tools and data to inform decision-making and development processes. Valerie’s subject matter expertise include community capacity, equity, and … Read More

Valerie is an experienced program manager specializing in large-scale public health projects that enhance systems specifically related to food access and physical activity. She is proficient in developing and implementing evidence-based planning tools and data to inform decision-making and development processes. Valerie’s subject matter expertise include community capacity, equity, and policy, system, and environmental efforts to enhance systems specifically related to food access and physical activity through communication, health improvements, partnerships, and policy change. She is trained in public program administration and development. Valerie is currently a Doctor of Public Health student at the University of Texas Health Science Center and serves as program manager for the Working on Wellness Environments program at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Read Less

Emily is employed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) team, funded in part by the CDC High Obesity Program 1809 grant. The work she focuses on includes conducting community assessments in both urban and rural contexts and providing evidence-based tools and data to inform decision-making and … Read More

Emily is employed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) team, funded in part by the CDC High Obesity Program 1809 grant. The work she focuses on includes conducting community assessments in both urban and rural contexts and providing evidence-based tools and data to inform decision-making and development processes. The vast majority of the communities she works in are along the Texas-Mexico border. The projects center around public engagement, equity, and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) efforts to best impact locally-driven community health improvements. These improvements may be accomplished through long-range plans, park activation, and connectivity and mobility solutions. The deliverables are often in the form of comprehensive plans, walkability plans, park activation plans, pilot-tested demonstrations, and grant writing assistance. Read Less

Jeongseup Lee is a Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences PhD student at Texas A&M University. He has a background in landscape architecture and urban planning. Jeongseup studies people's access to greenspace, park users' behavior, and walkability. His research helps communities make evidence-based decisions. In 2019, he received the Best Paper … Read More

Jeongseup Lee is a Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences PhD student at Texas A&M University. He has a background in landscape architecture and urban planning. Jeongseup studies people's access to greenspace, park users' behavior, and walkability. His research helps communities make evidence-based decisions. In 2019, he received the Best Paper Award for his master’s thesis by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Read Less

"I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, and I am a 2020 graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning. I now serve as a planning program coordinator as part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working On Wellness … Read More

"I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, and I am a 2020 graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning. I now serve as a planning program coordinator as part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working On Wellness Environments Team, funded in part by the CDC High Obesity program. In this position, I am able to work with low-resource border communities to help create policy, system, and environmental changes that will provide community members with opportunities for a healthier lifestyle. The WOW-E team aims to impact these communities by establishing infrastructure and opportunities for physical activity while finding ways to increase their access to healthy foods. Throughout the process, the team works to build capacity within these communities and empowers community members to visualize and initiate conversations surrounding positive change in their communities. Using my knowledge surrounding the planning process and my passion for working with and serving others, I help foster partnerships within these communities and help identify feasible and personalized recommendations for these unique environments in which we are based. " Read Less

Vic is a Project Coordinator with the Working on Wellness Environments Team in Texas. He enjoys being a team player and coordinating projects with his colleagues in different South Texas Communities. Although Vic does love his sweets, his goals are to create healthier environments by increasing access to healthy foods … Read More

Vic is a Project Coordinator with the Working on Wellness Environments Team in Texas. He enjoys being a team player and coordinating projects with his colleagues in different South Texas Communities. Although Vic does love his sweets, his goals are to create healthier environments by increasing access to healthy foods and to increase walkability by connecting every day places. Read Less

Jamie Rae, Associate Professor & Urban & Municipal Parks Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has an extensive background in park & recreation administration, environmental psychology, citizen input, park planning & policy. She enjoys assisting local advocates in implementing evidence-based & locally driven practices to support strong parks, connectivity, & … Read More

Jamie Rae, Associate Professor & Urban & Municipal Parks Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, has an extensive background in park & recreation administration, environmental psychology, citizen input, park planning & policy. She enjoys assisting local advocates in implementing evidence-based & locally driven practices to support strong parks, connectivity, & open spaces. She currently leads the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension's Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences Urban &Municipal Parks Extension outreach program that offers technical assistance, facilitation, and continuing education to empower community leaders, boards, park practitioners, and volunteers across Texas. Extension team members work with leaders & citizens to identify their local assets & link them to the relevant tools necessary for them to develop feasible and locally driven plans, programs, parks, and places that contribute to their community's overall health, economy, and green infrastructure. She is also currently the PI for AgriLife Extension’s Working on Wellness Environments program—a Policy, System, and Environmental approach to locally designed healthy communities. Read Less

Kelsey is a Project Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working on Wellness Environments and Urban and Municipal Park programs. She has experience in conducting park planning and community assessments in both urban and rural contexts. Her work focuses on providing evidence-based planning tools and data to inform decision-making and … Read More

Kelsey is a Project Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working on Wellness Environments and Urban and Municipal Park programs. She has experience in conducting park planning and community assessments in both urban and rural contexts. Her work focuses on providing evidence-based planning tools and data to inform decision-making and development processes. Kelsey’s work centers around citizen engagement, public health communications, and policy, system and environmental (PSE) efforts to best impact locally-driven community health improvements. Read Less