President’s Office

Dr. David Travis is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he received his BS (1987) and MA (1989) degrees in Geography. He then went on to Indiana University where he received his doctorate in Geography (1994).  All three of his degrees had a concentration in climatology.  He began a 30-year career in the Universities of Wisconsin System in 1994 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he spent 24 years teaching, doing research, and eventually moving into administrative positions. He won Outstanding Teaching (2001) and Research (2003) awards during this time. His research on the impacts of aviation on climate change has been published in high-impact journals and is internationally recognized. As an administrator, Dr. Travis served in a variety of roles including Department Chair, Associate Dean for two different colleges, and Dean of the College of Letters & Sciences for his final five years on campus. In 2018, Dr. Travis moved into the position of Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He held this position for six years with priorities centered on faculty/staff professional development, innovative approaches to managing change, and holistic approaches to improving student success.

As a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Dr. Travis is thrilled to be at Lake Superior State University where he can utilize his Canadian heritage to strengthen relationships with partners and prospective students across the border. Having lived in smaller towns his entire career, Dr. Travis enjoys being an active member of the community and getting to know people on a personal level. He looks forward to strengthening ties between the university and the community that surrounds it.

In his free time, Dr. Travis enjoys traveling as well as playing racquetball, tennis, and spending time outdoors.