Travis Russ, Ph.D., is a writer and director and the founding Artistic Director of Life Jacket, a theater company focused on creating works based on real events. His plays include "Gorey," "Jack & Jelly" (starring Nelsan Ellis) and "Norman’s Beard." Travis also leads the Storytelling Project, sponsored by Fordham University, where he helps people from diverse communities tell their real stories on stage in front of a live audience. He was a member of the Civilians’ Field Research Team and contributed material to their production of "The Way They Live," which premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2015 as part of the company’s artists-in-residency. He is an Associate Professor at Fordham University where he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in communication and performance. His doctoral degree is from Rutgers University. He has trained with Complicite, Tectonic Theatre Project, SITI Company, The Builders Association, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Frantic Assembly, and Elevator Repair Service.