Meet Dr. Travisano
Jacqueline Travisano, Ed.D., MBA, CPA
Dr. Travisano joined Wake Forest University as executive vice president and chief financial officer on July 1, 2023.
As Wake Forest’s executive vice president, Dr. Travisano oversees the University’s financial operations and has the responsibility for human resources, facilities and campus services, information systems, real estate, and hospitality and auxiliary services. She plays a key role in advancing the University’s strategic priorities and identifying and allocating resources to support Wake Forest’s academic mission.
With deep expertise in running complex organizations in both stable and uncertain times, Dr. Travisano’s career encompasses more than three decades of service to higher education and nonprofit organizations. She served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for eleven years at two iconic Florida universities, including the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University. She is recognized as a collaborative leader who has partnered with colleagues to significantly raise undergraduate admissions standards, improve student retention, construct cutting-edge facilities for student housing and research, and has successfully led through times of crisis including COVID-19, Hurricane Irma, and the global financial collapse of 2008-2009. Dr. Travisano is a champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in recruitment, retention, and is proud of leading the team that developed the University of Miami’s aspirations for diversity in its endowment management and purchasing.
In addition to her work in higher education, Dr. Travisano serves as an independent director on the board of AutoNation, one of the largest automotive retailer in the United States and on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations, where she is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.
Dr. Travisano has consistently received special recognitions and awards throughout her career. Recipient of the National Diversity Council’s Glass Ceiling Award, she also was named one of South Florida’s Influential Business Women by the South Florida Business Journal, the March of Dimes Woman of Distinction, Woman of the Year by the 1,000 Plus Club for Cancer Research, Businesswoman of the Year by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, an Apogee Award from South Florida Business & Wealth, and Student of the Year by her doctoral colleagues at Nova Southeastern University. She has also been honored twice by Boys and Girls Club of Broward County as one of Broward County’s Top 100 Women, and the Florida Diversity Council named her as one of Florida’s Most Powerful and Influential Women.
For two record breaking years, Dr. Travisano served as Chair of the Miami Dolphins Foundation’s Dolphin’s Challenge Cancer raising more than $12 million dollars for cancer research and resulting in a $75 million dollar pledge from the Miami Dolphins to the University of Miami. Dr. Travisano was elected to the Orange Bowl Committee to serve a lifetime appointment as a member. Her other board community service work includes two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Miami-Dade County and the Robert Morris University School of Business Board of Visitors.
Dr. Travisano holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University, Master of Business Administration from Chatham University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.