Diocesan News Releases
• The Rev. Dr. Douglas Travis is new dean and president of ETSS
By
Nov 16, 2006, 11:04

The Rev. Dr. Douglas Travis

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Rev. Dr. Douglas Travis is the new dean and president of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest (ETSS). Teacher, former theological school dean and parish priest, Dean-elect Travis will join the ETSS community on January 1, 2007. After working with Interim Dean Philip Turner through the upcoming spring semester, Travis will assume full duties as the seminary’s seventh dean on June 1.

 “Dean-elect Travis brings the skills and experience of both a parish priest and the administrator of a theological school. Both of these endeavors have been under girded by his serious theological study. We look forward with great expectation to the leadership he will provide for the future of ETSS,” said the Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, chair of the seminary trustees and bishop of the diocese of Texas, after seminary trustees formally called Travis at their annual November meeting.

 A native of Texas, Dean-elect Travis holds five academic degrees and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. His academic interests focus on spirituality, spiritual direction and leadership. He was dean of the Anglican School of Theology in Dallas, Texas, from 1987 to 1991. Biographical details and photos at www.etss.edu/TravisDean-elect.shtml.

In addition to directing the school and teaching three courses each year, he was Canon Theologian at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Dallas, for two years. He then spent nine years as rector of St. James’ Church, Dallas, before being called to the diocese of Texas. His teaching experience includes a two year stint in the mid-1980s as fellow and lecturer at the Center for Christian Spirituality at General Seminary in New York City.

 Dean-elect Travis comes to the seminary from Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands, Texas, where he has been rector since 2001.

 During his tenure at Trinity, adult Christian education was greatly expanded, outreach programs flourished and parishioner support increased nearly 20 percent.

 The dean-elect is married to Pamela Travis, an environmental attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency in Dallas. They have two adult daughters, Sasha and Nyssa.

Dean-elect Travis earned the Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in religion from Trinity University in 1975 where he was named a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He holds the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, in addition to the Master of Arts degree from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. General Seminary awarded him a Master of Sacred Theology degree in Spiritual Direction. Dean-elect Travis earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 2000. His thesis is titled “In Pursuit of Christian Maturity: On Developing a Rule of Life for a Parish.”