The LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin is proud to welcome a distinguished group of new faculty members, including Michael E. Webber, Alexandra Sukalo and Chi Ta. These esteemed scholars bring experience from various fields, including energy, environmental economics, and historical studies of Russia and the Soviet Union, enriching the academic community with innovative policy and leadership approaches. Their backgrounds and interdisciplinary approaches will significantly contribute to the LBJ School's ongoing efforts to prepare the next generation of leaders.
"We are thrilled to welcome these distinguished faculty members to the LBJ School," LBJ School Dean JR DeShazo said. "Their expertise and dedication to policy-relevant research will greatly enhance our academic community and offer our students invaluable insights and opportunities."
Michael E. Webber is the Sid Richardson Chair in the LBJ School and the John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in the mechanical engineering department at UT Austin. From September 2018 to August 2021, Webber was based in Paris, France, where he served as the Chief Science and Technology Officer at ENGIE, one of the world's largest energy companies. Webber's expertise spans research and education at the convergence of engineering, policy and commercialization on topics related to innovation, energy and the environment. His book "Power Trip: The Story of Energy" was published in 2019 by Basic Books with an award-winning 12-part companion series spread out over two seasons that aired on PBS, Amazon Prime, AppleTV and in-flight entertainment on American Airlines. The series had over 10,000 broadcasts in the United States and has been distributed in dozens of countries, ultimately reaching millions of viewers. He was selected as a Fellow of ASME (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and as a member of the 4th class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars, a leadership training program organized by Presidents George W. Bush and William J. Clinton. Webber has written five full-length general interest books, created two interactive textbooks, authored or co-authored more than 500 publications and been awarded six patents. He serves on the advisory board for Scientific American and GTI Energy (an industry consortium formerly known as the Gas Technology Institute). A successful entrepreneur, Webber was one of three founders in 2015 for an educational technology startup, DISCO Learning Media, which was acquired in 2018. Webber holds a B.S. and B.A. from UT Austin and an M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. He was honored as an American Fellow of the German Marshall Fund and by the University of Texas on four separate occasions for exceptional teaching.
"I am excited to the join the LBJ School as the Sid Richardson Chair of Public Affairs," said Professor Michael E. Webber. "This role, alongside my existing leadership position at the Cockrell School of Engineering, reflects the work we do at the Webber Energy Group to use engineering methods to inform policy-making on energy and environmental topics.
"Serving as a faculty member in both schools puts me in a position to supervise students studying policy or engineering and gives the team a platform to reach an even bigger audience across more academic disciplines and sectors of society." - Michael Webber, Sid Richardson Chair in the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in the department of mechanical engineering
Chi Ta is an Assistant Professor and an energy and environmental economist specializing in policy evaluation, design and the development of incentive mechanisms to promote conservation, sustainability and emission reduction efforts. Her research is dedicated to developing policies that enhance the economic and environmental welfare of underserved communities. In her work, she employs a range of theoretical and empirical approaches, including general equilibrium modeling, randomized control trials, and natural or policy experiments. Chi will join the LBJ School in the Fall 2024 semester.
"I'm thrilled to be joining the LBJ School of Public Affairs this Fall," said Professor Ta. "This opportunity will allow me to engage in impactful, policy-relevant research on both domestic and international fronts."
"With the school's fantastic resources and dynamic intellectual community, I'm especially excited to work on energy and environmental solutions alongside the university's vibrant energy groups, addressing real challenges in Texas, across the U.S. and around the world." - Chi Ta, Assistant Professor
Alexandra Sukalo is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs and a historian specializing in Russia and Eastern Europe. Her research focuses on Russian and Soviet intelligence, the military-industrial complex, and nuclear programs. Sukalo is completing a book on Soviet intelligence under Stalin based on her award-winning dissertation from UT Austin. Her second book project explores the Soviet nuclear industry. Previously, she taught at the Naval Postgraduate School and holds advanced degrees from Stanford and Yale. Sukalo also has experience as a Eurasian analyst for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency.
These new appointments join an impressive LBJ School faculty renowned for its breadth of expertise and interdisciplinary approaches to public affairs. They will contribute to a dynamic academic environment, advancing the school’s mission to develop forward-thinking leaders capable of addressing today’s most pressing global challenges.
Learn more about other Fall 2024 faculty appointments here.