The Untold Story of... Travis Brodbeck '17, G'18

1. Siena Seedling: Siena and the greater Capital District have been my home since I left for my undergraduate studies in 2013. I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees from Siena by May 2018. Following graduation, I began working full-time at the Siena Research Institute until February 2020. I then transitioned to a full-time role at CARES of NY, Inc., while also starting my teaching career in the School of Business in August 2020. In May 2022, I returned to Siena full-time, where I now serve as the Associate Director of Data Management at the Siena Research Institute and teach year-round in both the School of Business and the School of Liberal Arts. In summary - since 2013, I have been on the payroll of Siena College.
2. Flying Before Driving: When I was twelve years old, I joined a JROTC-like program called the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the United States Air Force Auxiliary, and through that program they provide cadet members an opportunity to fly a Cessna 182 with a flight instructor. Within two months of being a member, I got on the list to take my first flight, an orientation flight. I was a small child so when I arrived in uniform for my flight, they had to get phone books from the main office that I could sit on and see over the aircraft's instrument panel. We flew up and down the Hudson Valley following the river and stopped at Sky Acres airport for a quick pit stop before flying back to Dutchess County airport. I flew two more times eventually getting to my lesson on aircraft stalls when the alarm goes off. Due to financial limitations, I never got a chance to solo or get enough hours for a pilot's license, but maybe that opportunity is in my future.
3. Child Model: Right before I entered the seventh grade, my family was on vacation in the Jersey shore and I was spending the day at the Aztec Hotel's pool. My mom was watching me interact with the other children, but then she noticed something that made her uncomfortable. There was a woman who was talking to all the children, but she did not appear to have any of her own. Out of caution, my mom struck up a conversation with her and learned that this individual was a director of a modeling agency in Manhattan - she gave my mom a card and recommended I come in for an appointment. Within three months, I was working three days a week in NYC as a fit model - think a human mannequin that they use to design clothes and provide feedback to their factory liaisons. My mom would take me out of school right after 6th or 7th period and we would head to New Hamburg train station to go to the city. I learned to navigate the MTA and subway system, how to find my way through the crowded streets, and I picked up a couple of favorite restaurants and hot dog stands along the way. They didn't put my photos in public print, but it was pretty cool going to the store and seeing clothes that were designed for me - literally.
4. Avid Hiker: If you have seen my Instagram, you would know that hiking is one of my favorite hobbies. My mom took me for my first hike at Breakneck Ridge in Beacon, NY when I was a kid - immediately I was hooked. Over the years, I completed scores of hikes at nature sanctuaries, at state parks, at national parks, on mountains, and to fire towers. In fact, I was one of the winners of the inaugural Catskill Fire Tower Challenge where I hiked all five fire towers in the span of a three-day weekend. As a winner, I carry my commemorative pins on my backpack and proudly drive around with my custom license plate printed with the Fire Tower Challenge logo.
5. Cat Dad: During COVID, my housemates who all were essential workers and had to go into their respective work locations decided to adopt a kitten named Pistachio. At the time, I was working from home during my employment at CARES of NY, Inc., and the responsibility of caring for this cat fell into my lap. In a short amount of time, Pistachio became my co-worker and eventually roommate. We were and still are inseparable - one nice thing from COVID. Just a few months later, while working at CARES, one of our clients passed away and their cat had no home and no place to go. After everyone in our company said they couldn't take the cat, I raised my hand cautiously and that's how we ended up with our big guy, Mr. Muscles (his original name). Muscles was a scaredy cat for the first year or so, but now he is a big snuggle. Today, we are a happy family - every day when I get home, I am greeted by Pistachio and Mr. Muscles. And, yes - they get the zoomies at crazy times at night!
6. Travel Junky: I am blessed with the opportunity to travel the country and world. Across the years attending conferences and attending professional events, I traveled to and experienced 24 of the 50 states. I also visited nine countries: Canada, St. Martin, England, Northern Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and Austria. Domestically, one of my favorite places to travel is the Northeast whether it is Vermont, Massachusetts, or Connecticut and internationally, Germany, the country where I studied abroad, is my favorite international location.
7. Tech Enthusiast: If you've seen one of my talks on AI or been to my house, this would not be a huge secret, but my love for technology exploded while in undergrad. I was introduced to programming when I took a Linux class working with a Raspberry Pi microcomputer and since then I have been trying to get experience with all types of hardware, software, and coding languages. With my Raspberry Pis, I have created ad-blockers for my home network, created time lapse cameras, and even set up an old retro arcade. Outside of Linux, I like to learn coding and scripting languages, so far, I am proficient in HTML, CSS, SPSS Syntax, R, Python, and SQL. I am excited for the opportunity of driverless vehicles to help save lives from car accidents and to give us time back in our commutes. I am also excited about the technology being developed to observe and explore space.
8. Veggies Please: Following in the footsteps of my brother, I started a vegetarian diet after my return from study abroad in Europe. Upon my re-entry to the United States, what I used to eat was making me ill and causing other health issues. When I came back to campus for my senior year, the switch - with the help of Dining Services, was incredibly easy. In fact, since 2018, my diet changed to be even more restrictive, a vegan diet (no honey, cheese, or eggs). My reasons for this dietary restriction are multifaceted around health, environment, and ethics. So, during the semester if you see me topping up my plate with extra scrambled tofu in the morning, try some yourself - see if you like it!
9. There's No Planet B: My passion is environmental advocacy. While a club officer of Siena Students for Fair Trade, the Real Food Challenge, and the Environmental club, I was vocal in asking the institution to take steps to leave the planet better than how we inherited it. I wanted Siena to act like Francis did and to be patrons of nature and its children. Today, that is still true. At home, I unplug devices not in use, turn off the lights when I leave the room, and I watch my thermostat like a hawk. Through my social media, I try to capture the beauty of nature to inspire others to discover it. I am a gardener where at home I plant copious amounts of wildflowers and other pollinator friendly flowers. And, while I am pursuing my PhD in Information Science at the State University of Albany, I am working towards my dissertation that intersects climate change, environmental policy, and public opinion. The environment is my passion and I hope to advance all initiatives that make the world a peaceful, beautiful, and safer place.
10. Siena's Solidarity: In the fall of my last year at Siena as a graduate student, my world was ripped apart. My family and I suddenly lost my brother at 29 years old, 2.5 months before his 30th birthday. He was my older brother growing up six years before me. He was a vegan bodybuilder - I used to joke that his charisma was his super strength and would often point out that he spent more time talking at gym than lifting weights. Upon hearing the news of his passing from my parents following a Roots Café lunch, I immediately left campus and before the end of the night, I was contacted by various staff and administrators checking in and wishing the best for my family. Then, to my surprise at the wake, a Siena College bus arrived in the parking lot where friars, friends, and other members of the Siena community drove four hours round trip to support my family and me. Some even attended the funeral later in the week held at St. Kateri parish in Lagrangeville, NY. When I returned to campus, I was surprised to find a card from my residents (I was a CA in the Townhouses) and my business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, organized a fundraiser to help my family pay for the unexpected expenses associated with our loss. Yes - it was a tough time, but my Siena family supported me, held me up, and helped me grow in strength. I will forever be thankful to Siena for how they helped me during this time.

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