Dr. Ryan Travia has worked at the intersection of student affairs and college health for over 20 years. He is the inaugural associate vice president (AVP) for student success at Babson College, having previously served as Babson’s first associate dean of students for wellness. As AVP for student success, Travia provides leadership and strategic direction for a comprehensive portfolio that includes accessibility services; the campus assessment, response, and evaluation (CARE) team; counseling and psychological services; first-generation student success; health services; student advising and success; and wellness and prevention services. Prior to joining the Babson community in 2015, Travia spent a decade at Harvard University as the founding director of the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Services and founding director of the Department of Health Promotion and Education. He previously led the alcohol and drug education program at Dartmouth College.

Travia has written and presented extensively on framing and measuring well-being in a higher education context and is a frequent presenter and sought-after consultant. He currently serves on the International Advisory Board for Student Affairs at the Universidad de Monterrey. Travia holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and elementary education/moderate special needs and a master’s degree in educational administration, both from Boston College, as well as a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Thaddeus Mantaro serves as the dean of student health and wellness at Dallas College, where he leads efforts to enhance student well-being through integrated health services, counseling, and wellness programs. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, he has developed collaborative and holistic approaches to advancing student success. He has played a pivotal role in the integration of services at Dallas College, resulting in improvements in retention and mental health outcomes.

A counselor by training, Mantaro holds a PhD in higher education from Texas Tech University, where he studied well-being and leadership in higher education. He has led national and regional initiatives aimed at improving mental health, substance abuse prevention, and overall student wellness. An active member of several professional associations, including NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the American College Health Association, Mantaro is the founder of the DFW Health Promotion Collaborative, the Community College Health Coalition, and the Basic Needs Task Force. His work is informed by a deep commitment to creating environments in which students, faculty, and staff can thrive.