I am pleased to announce the appointment of Travis M. Smith as UC Riverside’s new vice chancellor of Development and Alumni Engagement. He will also assume the role of president of the UC Riverside Foundation following confirmation by the foundation board of trustees. Travis’s appointment will begin on July 6, 2026.
Travis is currently senior vice president for central development at the University of Minnesota Foundation. As a senior member of the leadership team, he manages 123 employees across nine teams, delivering a record-setting $464 million in gift commitments in fiscal year 2025.
Prior to his current appointments, Travis was also the assistant dean for the Carlson School of Management and senior director of regional advancement at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Travis also held several development roles at Oregon State University.
Travis received a degree in business administration from the University of Oregon and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the members of the search advisory committee:
Deborah Deas, Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences & Dean, SOM (Chair)
Jorge Ancona, interim Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement and Assistant Vice Chancellor, Alumni Engagement
Susan Atherton, UC Riverside Foundation Board of Trustees
Wally Bakare, UC Riverside Foundation Board of Trustees Chair
Joshua Carter, interim CFAO and Chief of Staff, VCDAE
Sarah Dillon, Director of Human Resources, CNAS (Compliance Liaison)
Leila Haidar, ASUCR President
Annya Lott, Associate Vice Chancellor, Development
Robyn Martinelli, Assistant Dean for Development, CNAS
Jeff Pack, UCR Alumni Association Board of Directors President-Elect
Liz Przybylski, Professor, Department of Music
Daryle Williams, Dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences