Meet New Faculty: Travis Bradford

Travis Bradford is the founder and president of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development, which is dedicated to developing cost-effective technologies by harnessing the power of the business sector. He holds an MBA from NYU and an MPA from Harvard, and previously taught at Duke, the University of Chicago, and -- in 2011 -- SIPA.

What do you study?

Professionally, my interest is in how energy and resource markets adapt to changing supply and demand conditions within energy and natural resource industries. These represent the very foundation of economic activity and industrial output. Energy = activity = output = income.

What do you teach?

Energy Fundamentals will be the required energy foundation class for all SIPA energy students – it will be challenging but worth it. The more advanced Energy, Markets, and Innovation course will be a much deeper dive with the data and analytics of real world problems.

What do you consider today’s most pressing global issue?

Resource scarcity beyond our ability to adapt – and the resulting loss of economic activity that stems from it. Our current high energy prices and economic malaise should be a big sign. And what we are doing to the environment? Don't get me started.

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

I am most proud about continuing to follow my passions wherever they take me. Teaching is my third career after corporate acquisitions and building a market-focused nonprofit [organization], and it is my favorite one thus far.

Why did you choose to come to SIPA?

Because of the amazing concentration of people that share those passions. And, today’s students are tomorrow's leaders. I want to make sure they are ready to overcome any challenge put in their way.