Travis Proulx was appointed to the position of vice president of external affairs at Fordham University on Tuesday, Jan. 21. His appointment makes him the first vice president of external affairs after an eight-person search committee, chaired by Chief of Staff Dr. Michael Trertola. As VP of external affairs Proulx will act as a liaison with local government as well as other outside bodies Fordham may work with. Proulx is an alumnus of St. Lawrence University’s class of 2004 and holds a master’s in public policy/communications from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY).
Proulx previously served as vice chancellor for agency and community engagement for the State University of New York (SUNY) collegiate system. A statement released by President Tania Tetlow on Jan. 15 noted that Proulx “oversaw government relations, policy development, budget and research advocacy, community engagement and marketing across SUNY’s 64 campuses.” He also held positions in public relations with the New York State Government.
In his new role, Proulx is set to attract significant government investments and weave relationships with Fordham University and its greater community in conjunction with the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) to connect Fordham with the Bronx and Manhattan. Importantly, Proulx will assist CCEL in administering the $50 million grant awarded to Fordham University by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
Proulx was interested in the role as he believes in ethics in the workforce. “For me, it is important to work someplace that is committed to making a difference in the lives of others,” said Proulx. “At Fordham, you have an exceptional institution and a remarkable team organized under President Tetlow’s leadership. The role — advocacy, community engagement, partnerships, and communications that maximize resources and opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the community — is highly rewarding.”
Furthermore, Proulx believes a university with the right resources for faculty, staff and students is one which can thrive. “Colleges and universities must open doors to create upward social mobility, and excel as engines of research, innovation, and excellence,” said Proulx. He and his team are committed to following an agenda which aligns itself with making collegiate education more supportive, affordable and open to engagement with the broader community.
“I have spent my career advocating on behalf of causes and people, which comes easily to me,” said Proulx. “[The hiring process] was a two-month process that included professional reference and background checks leading up to Dec. 23, when Tokumbo Shobowale offered me the opportunity to join his team. I’m grateful to him, and to the search committee, Office of Human Resources, and others who dedicated a significant amount of time to this work.”
Tokumbo Shobowale began employment with Fordham in Oct. 2023 as the university’s senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.
He also shared his excitement to begin work. “One of the aspects of this work that I appreciate the most is being able to help others to brainstorm and develop action plans,” he said.
While working with local governments can be challenging, Proulx says he is committed to the process and connecting himself with the university. “I am committed to being available to the Fordham community,” said Proulx. “I will be talking to as many people as I can; my door is open, and I invite people to reach out to chat anytime.”
