Travis Wharton is a native of Greenville, SC. He graduated from Claflin University in 2007 with a B.A. in Music Education. He began his teaching career as a middle school band director in Berkeley County Schools. Travis moved back to the Upstate and received his master’s degree in School Administration and Supervision from Clemson University in 2012. Since then, Travis has served as principal at both Mitchell Road Christian Academy and NEXT High School. His love of his community and growing awareness of the economic, educational and political disparities of black people drew him to shift from education into the non-profit arena. In 2018, Travis began working as an independent consultant for The Spartanburg County Foundation for their Network for Southern Economic Mobility initiative. By helping to develop strategy for connecting the capacity of non-profit organizations, government and community members, Travis is now working to change the economic forecast of youth and young people in the City of Spartanburg.