Type Of Business:
Community college
Expertise:
Fitness; Mentorship
Major Product/SVS:
Higher education
Favorite Business Publication:
Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance; Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport; The Sacramento Bee; USA Today; ESPN The Magazine; Sports Illustrated; NCAA Email Updates
Hobbies/Sports:
Reading about black and sports history; Visiting his family; Performing fitness conditioning; Mentoring youth
Education Degrees:
Advanced National Diploma, National Soccer Coaches Association of America (1995); Master of Education, Specialty in Physical Education, Western Illinois University (1972); Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, Minor in Sociology, California State University, Sacramento (1970)
Affiliations Awards:
Member, Academic Senate, Cosumnes River College; Member, Workforce Committee, Cosumnes River College; Member, Stand Up for Education, Mayor Kevin Johnson, Sacramento, CA; Former President, California Community College Soccer Coaches Association; Zeta Beta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Regional Convention Delegate, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; National Convention Delegate, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; Hilton Higher Education Worldwide (HHEW) Think Tank; Lifetime Member, NAACP; SCOPE
Children's Names:
Carolee, Jana
Charity:
Board of Trustees Member, Sunday School Teacher, Co-Chair, Scholarship Committee, Chair, Real Estate Committee, Shiloh Baptist Church; Mentor, Tutor, Alpha Academy; Mentor, Laguna Creek High School Black Student Union; Mentor, Jesuit High School Black Student Union; Mentor, Brothers of Kumba; Personal Trainer, Elementary, Middle School and High School Students; Participant, "Enter the College Zone," NBCDI; Participant, Literacy Liberation, Father Keith B. Kinney; Sponsor, Marlynn Smith Soprano Concert; Kit Carson Middle School Career Day; Presenter, Diversity Conference, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges; Participant, Share Fair; Participant, Christmas Promise; Participant, Underground Books Reading Project; Board Member, Senior Life Centers and Care; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Number Of Years In Profession:
40
Number Of Years In Current Position:
39
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
He attributes his success to the support he receives from his family, particularly two of his male cousins, who served as his childhood role models. He is also especially thankful to his wife and daughters.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
He became involved in his profession through his lifelong love for running, and the encouragement he received from a college coach.
Extended Bio Profile:
Prof. Parker has won numerous awards as an athletic coach, has been recognized for his work as a mentor, cares deeply about giving back to the community, and is very proud of his family. He serves as an unofficial mentor to faculty and staff at Cosumnes River College, with which which he has been happily associated for nearly four decades; in his 39 years with the school, he has used only one sick day. He coached for a total of 29 years, encompassing 43 seasons of sport at CRC—and all of his teams were successful. He was the head men's soccer coach for 20 years, and also served as head women's soccer coach and assistant track and field coach. He continues to teach some classes. In 2011, Prof. Parker's efforts on behalf of the Alpha Academy, a mentoring organization for young African-American men, were honored by the American Federation of Teachers with an "Everyday Hero" Award. A co-founder of the Academy, Prof. Parker has not missed a mentoring session in eight years. The Academy began working with four students and now mentors 60 to 70 youth per month. Prof. Parker also mentors area high school students and is active in the Shiloh Baptist Church. Moreover, Prof. Parker is a survivor of prostate cancer and maintains a commitment to educating men about the disease. He was an award-winning runner as an undergraduate at Sacramento State College and in the Army at Fort Riley. His first job as an educator was to coach cross-country and track at East St. Louis Senior High School, where he also served as health department chairman and started the first family life class. In 1983, Prof. Parker and his family were honored as the Elk Grove, Calif., Family of the Year. He continually strives to balance his commitment to family, passion for athletic and academic excellence, and desire to meet the needs of his community in any way he can. Needless to say, he is a very busy man. His daughter Jana recently observed, "Maybe someone should inform Travis Parker that there are only 24 hours in a day!"
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Teaching physical education, weight training, boot camp and workforce fitness; Coaching athletics; Tutoring; Mentoring faculty, staff and students
Awards/Honors:
Everyday Hero Award, American Federation of Teachers (2011); Inductee, Cosumnes River College Athletic Hall of Fame (2009); California Coach of the Year, California Coaches Association (2008); Hayward Award for Excellence in Education, Foundation for California Community Colleges (2008); Inductee, California Community College Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame (2006); Award for Service and Dedication, Northern California Soccer Coaches Association (1999); Inductee, Stockton Black Hall of Fame (Now African American Athletes Hall of Fame of Stockton) (1997); Community College Coach of the Year, California Coaches Association (1994); Coach of the Year, Junior College Men's Western Region, National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Umbro (1994); Outstanding Soccer Coach, Sacramento Bee Hall of Fame (1983); Elk Grove Family of the Year (1983); Heritage Award; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Crystal Apple Award, Cosumnes River College; Elk Grove Educator of the Year
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Prof. Parker intends to foster the continued growth of the Alpha Academy, which he co-founded with John Taylor in 2004.