WASHINGTON – Travis Rickford, MPA, has been hired as the State Director for a new Community Engagement Initiative funded by the Kansas Health Foundation.

Launching this year, the Community Engagement Initiative will support residents in communities with elevated concentrations of health risks in their efforts to create policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to build healthier communities.

“We’re thrilled to have Travis on board to lead our efforts in Kansas,” says Ashley Brown, Senior Program Manager for the initiative. “His experience will be invaluable to our work moving forward.”

Travis Rickford is a public health professional who has been working on community health issues for over eight years. He previously served as a Community Health Specialist for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment where he worked with communities to build their infrastructure to address chronic diseases through grant management, community health assessment, and building cross-sector partnerships.

“As a lifelong Kansan, I know the challenges that our communities face when it comes to living long, healthy lives,” says Rickford. “Too many in our state still lack access to affordable, nutritious food and safe places to play and exercise. I’m looking forward to hearing from residents across Kansas about how they would improve the health of their community and working with them to implement changes that will help ensure all families thrive for generations to come.”

Rickford received his Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fort Hays State University. He resides in Hays with his wife Melissa, son Ashton, and daughter Olivia.

The Center for Global Policy Solutions, a social change nonprofit based in Washington is the national program partner for the Community Engagement Initiative.