With over ten years of experience leading large-scale public health initiatives in Kansas, Travis Rickford was named Executive Director of LiveWell Northwest Kansas in May 2018 following the retirement of Sue Evans at the end of 2017.
As a community health advocate at LiveWell, Travis will work with communities to build their capacity to create systems that improve the overall quality of life for residents of northwest Kansas. This includes activities such as community engagement, sustainability planning and project management.
In addition to his role at LiveWell, Travis also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Political Science Department at Fort Hays State University where he is able to integrate real life work experience into his coursework. He also serves as a board member for the Kansas Public Health Association, Kansas Action for Children, the Kansas Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration and is a current member of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. Travis holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Missouri, a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Fort Hays State University, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement from Kansas State University.
Prior to LiveWell, Travis served as State Director for the Kansas Health Foundation's Community Engagement Initiative. Additionally, he developed and led community public health efforts during his tenure with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
With an office in Colby, Travis commutes from a home in Rawlins County near Atwood where he and his wife Melissa raise their son, Ashton, and daughter Olivia.