The Very Reverend Douglas Travis
Seventh Dean and President of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest

Sixth-generation Texan and a fourth-generation clergyman, the Very Rev. Douglas Travis joined the seminary community as Dean-elect at the beginning of 2007 and became Dean in June that year. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, he holds five academic degrees including a Master of Sacred Theology in Spiritual Direction and a Doctor of Ministry. Travis’ academic interests focus on Christian formation, spirituality and leadership. He describes himself as a moderate who is deeply committed to the unity of the Anglican Communion. Devoted to Anglicanism in its essentials, Travis thinks that the great challenge of the Episcopal Church in a postmodern and largely post-Christian world is to remember and embrace heartily the essentials of our tradition – especially as expressed in the historic creeds and the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral – while also being responsive to the developing needs of an emerging culture. Doug came to the seminary after being rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands, Texas. Prior to that he served three parishes in the Diocese of Dallas where he was also the Dean of the Anglican School of Theology, and he was a fellow and lecturer at The General Theological Seminary in New York.

B.A., Trinity University. M.A.T.S., McCormick Theological Seminary. M.A., University of Chicago Divinity School. S.T.M., General Theological Seminary. D.Min., Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Extended Biography

The Very Rev. Douglas Travis, D.Min

Dean and President

Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas

Teacher, former theological school dean and parish priest, The Very Rev. Douglas Travis is Dean and President of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest (ETSS) in Austin, Texas.

A native of Texas, Dean 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.

In addition to directing the Anglican School of Theology 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 Travis came to the Seminary of the Southwest at the beginning of 2007 from Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands, Texas, where he had been rector for five years.

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

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

Dean 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 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.”

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