Among the many new faces around Southern Nazarene University’s campus this year is Travis Hartfield, an Oklahoma State University graduate who found his way to SNU through an unexpected email.
Originally from Watonga, Oklahoma, Hartfield began his college career playing football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. After a serious injury ended his playing career, Hartfield continued his education and eventually became a professor at OSU.
“I ended up finishing my degree and ended up being a professor at Oklahoma State,” Hartfield stated. “It was a long journey, but I continually worked with athletes.”
Hartfield also served as chaplain for the Cowboy football team, a role he particularly enjoyed. Eventually, he stepped away from athletics to pursue entrepreneurship, developing software designed to help people establish healthy boundaries and build personal resilience.
After spending time in the business world, Hartfield realized he wanted to return to working with college students. That opportunity arrived through an email about an open position in SNU’s Student Success department.
“It wasn’t teaching, but it was exactly what I liked doing, and so I applied, and here I am,” Hartfield explained.
For Hartfield, supporting college students extends far beyond a job description. He views the work as a personal calling.
“It’s almost like a calling, or ministry, where you get to do this,” Hartfield said. “It almost felt like something was missing when I was away from it.”
Since arriving at SNU, Hartfield has already begun building relationships with students. He recalled one of his early experiences connecting with students outside the office, when some members of SNU’s basketball players invited him to play.
“That was work, me connecting with you guys,” Hartfield laughed.
While student success forms the core of his role at SNU, Hartfield’s definition of success goes beyond grades or accomplishments.
When asked what student success means to him, Hartfield emphasized two things he hopes students understand while working toward their goals: that their best is enough and that they have more resources available to them than they may realize.
“If a student is able to know two things from the time that I meet with them, to whatever goal or expectation or whatever it is that they’re trying to meet, [I want them to know] your best is good enough, more than good enough, and you’re more resourceful than you are; that’s success,” Hartfield shared.
Although Hartfield is new to SNU, he hopes students will get to know him beyond his role on campus. When asked about some fun facts students should know, Hartfield jokingly described himself as boring. However, he did share one thing he enjoys.
“I love just having conversations, hearing about what’s going on and sharing stories,” Hartfield said.
With years of experience mentoring college students and student-athletes, Hartfield brings a wealth of insight to his new role. As he continues settling into the SNU community, he encourages students to drop by his office, share their stories, and say hi!
Photo by: Dez Williams