About Us
Beverly F. Kellner, B.A.
Extension Assistant, Passenger Safety
Bev Kellner joined the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in 1996. Prior to her appointment, she was an editor of articles for submission to professional journals.
Bev is the program coordinator for the Passenger Safety project. In addition to managing the project, her area of expertise includes developing original, technically accurate graphics and layout design for project publications. She is also the technical editor for the project’s quarterly tech updates, webmaster for the project’s website, and coordinator for the dedicated online database for locating National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-certified child safety technicians/instructors in Texas. She is a certified child passenger safety seat instructor and teaches the standardized national child passenger safety technician course. In addition, Bev participates as a senior checker at child safety seat checkup events across the state.
Bev serves on the Family Development and Resource Management computer and web committees, and was a member of the planning committees for the 2000 Buckle Up Texas Workshop and the 2000 International Child Passenger Safety Technical Conference as well as the Click It or Ticket Memorial Day Mobilization 2005 and 2006. She is currently a vice president of the Brazos Valley Injury Prevention Coalition and serves on the College Station Head Start Policy Council.
In 1998, Bev received the Epsilon Sigma Phi State Award for Meritorious Support Service. She was a recipient of the the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Superior Service Team Award in 1999. Bev received her B.A. in Economics from the University of Massachusetts.
Myrna Boren, B.B.A.
Extension Assistant, Passenger Safety
Myrna Boren joined the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in 1997 and accepted an appointment with Family Development and Resource Management and the Rural Passenger Safety Team in 1999.
Myrna is program coordinator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Child Passenger Safety Technical Training sponsored by Passenger Safety. She is a certified child passenger safety technician/instructor. She organizes and instructs at the NHTSA certification training and is a senior checker at child safety seat checkup events across the state, which are conducted in cooperation with county Extension agents. Myrna assists county Extension agents, certified technicians, and parents with concerns regarding child passenger safety. She has completed the Transporting Children with Special Needs Training and the School Bus Training. Myrna assists in programming for safety belt use, child passenger safety, the Rollover Convincer, and other vehicle occupant protection issues.
Myrna served on the 2000 Institute Health and Safety Block; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use among Teens: What Can Communities Do?; and participated in the 2000 Buckle up Texas Workshop. She serves on the Texas Child Passenger Safety Advisory Committee and is a member of the Brazos Valley Injury Prevention Coalition.
Myrna received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas Tech University.
Janie L. Harris, M.Ed., C.R.S.
Extension Housing and Environment Specialist
Janie Harris is an Extension Housing and Environment Specialist, providing leadership for Extension educational programs for adults and youth in housing and the environment. She provides in-service training for Extension faculty, and develops and provides educational programs and resources for use by Extension faculty, volunteer leaders, clientele, agencies, organizations, and associations. The current issues being addressed in the Housing and Environment program are: Healthy Indoor Air for Texas’ Homes, Safety in the Home, Homebuyer Education and Counseling, Water Conservation and Quality, and Accessible Living.
Janie has a B.S. degree in Home Economics from Texas Tech University and a M.Ed. degree in Adult and Extension Education from Texas A&M University. She holds a Texas Real Estate Broker’s license, is a graduate of the Texas Realtors Institute, is a Certified Residential Specialist, and is certified as a Homebuyer Educator. She has more than 12 years experience in real estate sales and counseling. Additionally, Janie has completed numerous workshops and trainings conducted by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Texas Department of Transportation. In 1998, she was certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Twenty percent of Janie’s time is devoted to directing a statewide Extension educational effort in traffic safety. The Passenger Safety team develops and provides educational programs and resources related to traffic safety issues for use by Extension faculty, volunteers, clientele, agencies, organizations, and associations.
In 1998, Janie received an individual specialist Extension Superior Service Award, an Extension Superior Service Team Award as a member of the Master Parent Volunteer program team, the Epsilon Sigma Phi Team Award for Coordinated Campaign Safe & Sober, and the Texas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist Team Award. In 1999, Janie and the Passenger Safety team were recognized with an Extension Superior Service Team Award. In 2000, she received a mid-career award from Epsilon Sigma Phi. In 2003, Janie received a Southern Region, Epsilon Sigma Phi award.
