Overcoming: Through Faith, Prayer and Perseverance

Dr. Harris Travis enjoyed a distinguished career in engineering, education, and ministry. His engineering career begin in 1960 to 1972, he worked at Naval Avionics Facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, in several engineering capacities. While at Naval Avionic, he received the Superior Accomplishment Award, Outstanding Employee Award and Pride Award. In 1972 he began to pursuit a career in education at Purdue University, where he rose from the rank of assistant professor to full professor and department chairperson. While at Purdue University's he received the "Outstanding Professor Award" and had a sabbatical and taught at Northeastern London Polytechnic, London, England. In 1980, Indiana Christian University conferred upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Theology. From 1982 to 1998 he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Southern Polytechnic University (now Kennesaw State University). During this period he was very active nationally and internationally presenting papers in nine different foreign countries. He received four national awards from the American Society of Engineering Education; and was made a fellow in the Society in 1993. He was among a select few individuals awarded one of the Society's Centennial Medallions during its centennial celebration. In addition, he received the Society's James H. McGraw Award as an Outstanding Engineering Technology Educator and the Chester F. Carlson Award for innovation in engineering education. Dr. Travis has received numerous other national and local awards, and in 1991 Purdue University conferred upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Technology. Dr. Travis became the Senior Pastor of Zion Baptist in 1992. He worked bi-vocational as Vice President and Pastor from 1992 to 1998, when he retired from the University and became the full time Senior Pastor of Zion Baptist Church. He received while Pastor of Zion the "President's Award" from the Cobb County NAACP and the Martin Luther King "Freedom Award," given by Zion Baptist Church and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He has been a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity since 1958 and is one of the founders of Omicron Mu Lambda Chapter in Cobb County, Marietta, Georgia.