University of Dubuque Inaugurates 12th President, Travis L. Frampton, During Homecoming

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque formally inaugurated Travis L. Frampton, PhD, as its 12th president Friday, October 3, 2025, at an inauguration ceremony during Homecoming in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

Frampton, who began his service to UD in June 2024, brings valuable experience as both a scholar and an administrator. Continuing the work of his predecessors, Frampton has already initiated significant advancements in his first year, including the process of establishing the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed, applicant seeking accreditation), a major expansion of the aviation program and the Edward Babka Aviation Learning Center, and the construction of the 75,000-square-foot Chlapaty Center for Innovation.

"The University of Dubuque is a knowledge enterprise that embraces innovation, discovery, and hands-on learning to prepare students to meet the greatest challenges of our time," Frampton said. "At UD, this vision is coming to life in bold and exciting ways. Our university is in the midst of breakthrough transformation relevant to student learning and is meeting the needs of our communities on a local, regional, and national level."

Classes were redirected and campus offices were closed to allow for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and special guests to come together as a community in celebration. Adam Hoffman, PhD, vice president for academic affairs, opened the inauguration ceremony with a university greeting.

"President Frampton's forward-looking mindset has quickly defined his tenure and reintroduced a powerful concept to our campus dialogue: Courageous Adventurings ," Hoffman said. "The vision President Frampton offers us is a whisper of inspiration that is definingly clear. It is a belief that 'If you build it, they will come' - not just students, but community, opportunity, prosperity, and transformation. You don't have to look far for proof that these courageous adventurings are already yielding extraordinary fruit."

Additional greetings were shared by delegates on behalf of the UD Presidential Search Committee, the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, the City of Dubuque, and UD faculty, staff, and alumni. Charlie McCormick, PhD, president of Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, where Frampton served prior to his appointment at UD, also shared a heartfelt greeting on behalf of college and university delegates.

Kenadi Sovey, a sophomore flight operations major from Osco, Illinois, spoke on behalf of students as vice president of the University of Dubuque Student Government Association.

"We look forward to a presidency that listens, that dares to imagine, and that works side by side with students to build a community where everyone belongs and thrives. Because at the end of the day, what makes this place great isn't just our traditions - it's our willingness to evolve while staying true to our core values," Sovey said. "I have been fortunate to work closely with President Frampton in the recent months and have already gotten to see all of the amazing ideas he has that will continue to evolve our community."

The greetings portion of the ceremony was closed with a statement on behalf of UD as the college of the future by Kayleese Thoma, a junior environmental science and secondary education double major from Dubuque, Iowa.

"Starting on my very first day on campus, I've had many honest conversations with faculty and staff, allowing discovery of common interests. This small school that I drove past once a week was something that I connected with in a way I never thought I would. The college of the future needs more professors and administrators that care enough about the students to create connections outside of the textbook or lecture hall," Thoma said. "President Frampton is an excellent example of this in the ways he shows up at band concerts, basketball games, and everything else in between. While at these events, he is not just a spectator. Instead, he finds ways to learn about students by engaging with their interests."

Rev. Jeffrey F. Bullock, PhD, president and professor of homiletics, emeritus, was joined by Douglas J. Horstmann (C'75), MBA, chair of the Board of Trustees, to present the presidential medallion to Frampton and conduct the formal investiture of the president. Rev. Kelly Pigott, PhD, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Roswell, New Mexico, introduced Frampton.

There were special performances by the University of Dubuque Concert Choir and The Newfangled Four.

"Universities should be places where faculty, staff, and students come to learn how to see the world differently. How to see it redemptively. For goodness sake," Frampton said.

It was a truly historic moment as UD has not held an official presidential inauguration ceremony since John J. Agria, PhD, was inaugurated as the university's 10th president on April 5, 1991, in Westminster Presbyterian Church (now Bread of Life Presbyterian Church). Agria served as president from 1990 to 1996. Following Agria's service, J. Bruce Meriwether (C'60, DHL'02), then vice chairman of the Board of Trustees, was named acting president until Bullock became UD's 11th president in June 1998 after serving for two years as vice president of the university and dean of the seminary. Bullock is the longest-serving president in UD's history.

A theme from Frampton's inauguration ceremony was tesserae - tiny pieces of tile that come together to create a mosaic in the same way that the Spartan family comes together to create UD's story. As attendees entered John and Alice Butler Hall, they were each handed a tessera by students. They were encouraged to share those tesserae with Gary Drostle, an award-winning mosaic artist specializing in bespoke site-specific artwork, who has been on campus to create a mosaic that will be unveiled in two years during UD's 175th anniversary.

"A university is much like a mosaic, both require a delicate balance of science and art. For a university, its tesserae are people: students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and community members. Each individual piece is unique, each necessary, each part of the whole. Together, they create something larger than themselves, a wonderful compilation of storied tiles - a living mosaic for the sake for creating meaning through building better communities for generations to come," Frampton said.

About President Frampton

Born in Sacramento, California, Frampton was raised in Pinson, Alabama, where his love for learning took root during long hours spent exploring the woods near his childhood cul-de-sac. He has carried this early curiosity and interest in asking "big questions" about meaning and purpose throughout his life. A passionate reader, he is especially drawn to history, philosophy, theology, and practical essays - especially the writings of Montaigne. His intellectual interest in the humanities and the liberal arts continues to shape his vision for higher education today.

Frampton earned a bachelor of arts in religion from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, a master of arts in religion from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut, and a dual doctor of philosophy degree in philosophy and religion from Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (philosophy) in the Netherlands and Baylor University (religion) in Waco, Texas. In 2001, Frampton was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study in the Netherlands.

Prior to his appointment at UD, Frampton served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, from July 2019 to May 2024. He also was Schreiner's Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges liaison as well as Schreiner's Title IX coordinator. As provost and vice president for academic affairs, Frampton created a new academic learning ecosystem for the campus, implemented new academic programs, designed relevant and innovative academic majors, developed mission-critical co-curricular programs, and created ways to improve efficiency, established graduate school pipelines for undergraduates, and added resources to increase support for faculty development.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Frampton is a sports fan. While he enjoyed playing football and basketball in his younger years, it was through coaching and watching his sons play little league that his lifelong fascination with baseball deepened. At one point, this enthusiasm even led him to handcraft custom wood baseball bats, which he sold online. Frampton is an avid walker and hiker and finds much enjoyment in time spent outdoors. He also has a rich appreciation for music, ranging from 70s and 80s rock-n-roll to jazz and classical compositions.

Frampton and his wife, Tonya, are the proud parents of three sons: Blake, Benjamin, and Brody.