As Extension Program Specialist III – Gerontology and Health, Andy Crocker’s focus is to support education and outreach regarding the health and well-being of the aging population in the State of Texas. His main role is to support the County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences in their outreach efforts to older adults, caregivers and the professionals who serve them.
Since joining AgriLife Extension in 2003, Mr. Crocker has worked to develop resources to help older adults improve their health literacy through communication with their health provider and better medication management; navigate the Internet and access reliable health information; and provide information and referral to grandparents rearing their grandchildren. He has also developed trainings for health professionals, Adult Protective Services caseworkers and other professionals on Alzheimer’s disease, end-of-life decision-making and maintaining independence, among others.
Mr. Crocker is the author of a six-lesson series intended to help older adults improve their memories through use of memory strategies, proper nutrition and medication management. He also serves as a leader for the national eXtension initiative in the Family Caregiving Community of Practice, Child and Family Learning Network and Military Families Learning Network – Military Caregiving. A popular conference speaker, Mr. Crocker is frequently sought to provide training to professionals and/or information to the public at conferences within Texas and throughout the nation. To-date, he has sought and received over $1.44M in competitive grant funding, including more than $892,000 as Principal Investigator.
Mr. Crocker serves on a number of boards throughout the State of Texas including the Aging Texas Well Advisory Committee through the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Texas Kincare Taskforce. He is a past recipient of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Superior Service Award and a two-time recipient of the Texas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Specialist Award for Distinguished Achievement.
Mr. Crocker earned a B.A. in Biology (2001) and an M.S. in Gerontology (2002) from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Contact Information
Andrew B. Crocker, M.S.
Extension Program Specialist III | Gerontology and Health
Family Development and Resource Management
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center – Amarillo
6500 Amarillo Boulevard, West | Amarillo, Texas 79106
p: 806.677.5600 | f: 806.677.5644 | e: ABCrocker@ag.tamu.edu
Web: aging.tamu.edu | Twitter: @abcrocker | LinkedIn: abcrocker