Dr. Travis L. Stokes
Dr. Travis L. Stokes was born and raised in Easley, South Carolina. A resident of Miami Dade County for the past 21 years. He has maintained his passion for helping others through servant leadership and his time and treasure. His Personal Mission Statement is “Aspire to Inspire before you Expire.” -Unknown.
Dr. Stokes has had a transformational career at FIU. Inspired by the university’s culture as a student, student leader, and student-athlete, he chose FIU for the formative years of his career. He has served in positions of increasing responsibility and influence within the FIU Athletics Association, the FIU Athletics Marketing Department, and FIU’s Division of Operations and Safety. Dr. Stokes’ dedication to going above and beyond his responsibilities for the benefit of the University’s students, faculty, staff, and administration has been recognized multiple times.
Recently, Dr. Stokes was accepted into the prestigious Emerging Leaders program at The John F. Kennedy School for Executive Education at Harvard University. In June 2023, Dr. Stokes received the United Way Miami Dorothy Shula For Outstanding Volunteerism Award.
In June of 2022, Dr. Stokes recently obtained his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Published Dissertation Topic: Examining Motivators That Influenced African American and Latinx Students to Degree Completion of a Doctoral Program.
A proud Alum of FIU, he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in public administration. Dr. Stokes also holds Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace and Inclusive and Ethical Leadership certificates from the University of South Florida (USF).
He was also a member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Premier Leadership Program: Leadership Miami Class 37. He was the Program Co-chair of 15 team members aiming to develop and maintain a sustainable curriculum for PACE Miami Center for Girls. His team received a United States Congressional Record from Congressman Carlos Curbelo and a Proclamation from MDCP School Board Member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall.
Dr. Stokes and 2 of his colleagues were featured in the 2017 FIU Fall Magazine Volume 38 Issue: Hope After The Storm, Unsung Heroes for assisting Monroe County evacuees during Hurricane Irma.
In March of 2017, he was featured in Brickell Magazine’s The Philanthropic Effect: Local Hero for his philanthropic work with the Junior Orange Bowl, where he served as an Executive Board Member and the Chair of the Parade.
In 2021, Dr. Stokes and his colleagues were recognized with the FIU Community Award for developing and activating COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Sites.
He previously served on the United Way of Miami Young Leaders Society Executive Committee and was Co-Chair of Brand Development. He also served on the Miami-Dade County Youth Crime Task Force and the Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency Board (CAAB). Currently, he serves on the United Way of Miami’s Engagement Committee and Impact Council School Age Education, the NextGen Young Leaders Society at the Chapman Partnership, and the Young Leaders Society at Camillus House.
Finally, in addition to his community philanthropic work, Dr. Stokes has 27-plus years of experience in the Sport of Cheerleading, where he holds multiple national titles and one silver and two bronze medals at the United States All-Star Federation Cheerleading World Championships (USASF).