Dnika J. Travis, Ph.D.

Research Fellow

Dnika J. Travis specializes in workforce diversity and inclusion, organizational change, and leadership and communication effectiveness. Her work is driven by a passion to equip employees at all levels with the workplace conditions and individual skills necessary to build inclusive, quality-driven organizations. She has published on employee voice, employee engagement and retention, workforce diversity and inclusion, and management of human service organizations. Dr. Travis’ research has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Texas Early Learning Council, Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, as well as the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Travis has extensive consulting, training, and teaching experience—specializing in navigating organizational change, building diverse and inclusive work environments, and bolstering leadership and team communication practices. In this respect, she has worked with organizations in the nonprofit, public, and corporate sectors to develop engaged teams that produce high quality outcomes and business results.

Dr. Travis also works with Catalyst as a Senior Director, Corporate Practice Research. Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit membership organization expanding opportunities for women and business.  Dr. Travis earned her PhD from University of Southern California, MSW from University of Michigan, and BA from Hampton University. She is a member of The Phi Kappa Phi All-University Honor Society.

Professional Interests

Promoting inclusion and workforce diversity; Initiating and navigating organizational change; Building effective communication and leadership skills

Education

• Ph.D., University of Southern California
• M.S.W., University of Michigan
• B.A., Hampton University

Teaching History

Faculty Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Mor Barak, M.E. & Travis, D. J.  (In Press). Socioeconomic trends: Broadening the diversity ecosystem. In The Oxford Handbook of Diversity and Work, edited by Q. Robertson. Oxford University Press.

Travis, D.J., Learman, J., Brooks, D., Merrill, T., & Spence, R. T.  (2012). The faith community, substance abuse, and readiness for change: A national study. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(2), 231-247.

Travis, D. J., Gomez, R. & Mor Barak, M. E. (2011). Speaking up and stepping back: Exploring the link between employee voice and job neglect. Children and Youth Services Review.

Travis, D. J. & Mor Barak, M. E. (2010). Fight or Flight? Factors impacting child welfare workers propensity to seek positive change or disengage at work. Journal of Social Service Research, 36(3), 188-205.

Davis, K. & Travis, D. J. Culture and leadership. (2010). In G. Blau & P. Magrab (Eds.), The Leadership Equation: Strategies for Individuals Who Are Champions for Children, Youth, and Families. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing. p.199-226.

Gomez, R. J., Travis, D. J., Ayers-Lopez, S., & Schwab, J. (2010). In search of innovation: Child welfare recruitment and retention. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(5): 664-671.

Links

http://www.utexas.edu/research/cswr/cfri/?page_id=8
http://www.catalyst.org/page/66/researchers-consultants
http://www.rwjf-newconnections.org/grantees/114