Announcing In Real Life (IRL) Campus Director: Travis Herbert
It is an incredible honor and privilege to be the first Campus Director of the Listening to Our Teens Network. I feel fortunate to be able to come into this role after so much positive work has already been done. I became involved with the LTOTN as a “listener” in the fall of 2008, and quickly became inspired by the LTOTN commitment to a collaborative process that includes stakeholders from all parts of our Asheville community and involves young people in the process in a meaningful and authentic manner from the start. This forms the cornerstone of the LTOTN, and, in my opinion, will ultimately determine its future success.
In order to begin to gain your trust and respect I would like to share some of my story and the journey that brought me to the Campus Director position. I grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania and began working with young people when I was one, at the age of 15. These initial experiences facilitating games and activities, coaching at our local basketball camp, and working as a counselor at a summer day camp, though I’m not sure I knew it at the time, served as the beginning of my journey working with youth. Since then, I have spent the greater part of my professional life working with and for young people in a number of different settings and capacities.
In 2007, I completed my Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of New England located in Portland, Maine. This experience allowed me to work at the Muskie School of Public Service on youth development initiatives such as the Maine Youth Leadership Advisory Team (YLAT), and also provided a clinical immersion experience at a small mental health agency focusing on trauma recovery. Most recently, I have been working for the North Carolina Outward Bound School as the community programs manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations and risk management of their community-based programs.
Personally, I spent most of my time outside of work in the outdoors. I have been rock climbing for close to 15 years, and love to spend time playing in the mountains, often with my dog Leroy by my side or at the bottom of the cliff. I have been living in Western North Carolina since 1997 and began living in Asheville in 2007.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone that has been involved with LTOTN from the start and has worked hard to ensure that the Fall 2010 In Real Life programs are a reality. I am confident that this network and these programs will offer exciting and enriching after school experiences for middle school students. I am looking forward to building relationships with all of the stakeholders in the LTOTN and working to ensure its continued success.
I will be transitioning into the Campus Director role on July 1st. Please, stop by my office at Asheville Middle School and say hello!
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In Real Life Fall 2010 Catalog