Ph.D., Vanderbilt University 2012
Erin Bradfield’s areas of specialization are Aesthetics, Philosophy of Film, and Ethics. Her research focuses on the social and political dimensions of Kantian aesthetics. In particular, she works on issues regarding communication, exclusion, and aesthetic community formation. Dr. Bradfield’s work has been published in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, The Journal of Aesthetic Education, and The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, among other places. Her most recent essays address topics in negative aesthetics, including work on ugliness, disgust, and the sublime.
Dr. Bradfield also enjoys coaching Santa Clara University’s Ethics Bowl team. In 2018, she led the team to win the national title at the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition. This is the first time a California school has ever won the National Championship! In 2019, she coached the team to win the California Regional competition, followed by a top eight finish at the Nationals in 2020. The team returned to the Nationals with Dr. Bradfield in 2023, with a top four finish. Go Broncos!
Dr. Bradfield earned a B.A. from Colgate University and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.