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Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

University of Tennessee logo
  • About Us
    • Mission and Vision
    • Faculty and Staff
    • History
    • Board
    • Organization
    • Modern Political Archives
  • For Students
    • About
    • Living Learning Community
    • Baker Ambassadors
    • Baker Scholars
    • Washington Fellows
    • Public Policy Analytics Minor
  • For Faculty
    • Mission and Vision
    • Find an Expert
  • Research
    • Energy and Environment
    • Global Security
    • Leadership and Governance
    • Publications
  • News and Events
  • Institute of American Civics
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Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy

About Us

  • Mission and Vision
  • Faculty and Staff
  • History
  • Board
  • Organization
  • Modern Political Archives
  • Institute of American Civics

Faculty and Staff

The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy has a diverse and robust faculty and staff in order to mobilize the center’s mission to provide critical insights on domestic and international challenges through interdisciplinary research, experiential education, and policy engagement.

Administration

Dr. Marianne Wanamaker

Executive Director, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; Professor, Department of Economics

Fields of Interest

Labor Economics and Workforce Development, Education, American Economic History, and Demography

Biography
  • Executive Director, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy;
  • Professor, Department of Economics;
  • Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER);
  • Fellow, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa;
  • PhD, Economics, Northwestern University
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Contact Information

Dr. Marianne Wanamaker
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: bakercenter@utk.edu

Katie Cahill
Dr. Katie A. Cahill

Associate Director, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; Director, Leadership and Governance Policy Program; Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science (adjuct)

Fields of Interest

Public Health, Health Policy, Underserved Communities, Leadership and Democracy

Biography
  • Associate Director, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy;
  • Director, Leadership & Governance Program;
  • Assistant Professor (adjunct), Department of Political Science and MPPA Program;
  • PhD, Political Science, Purdue University
complete bio
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Contact Information

Dr. Katie Cahill
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-8681
Email: kcahill3@bakercenter
Make an appointment

Program Directors

Charles Sims
Dr. Charles B. Sims

Director, Energy and Environmental Policy Program; Associate Professor, Department of Economics

Fields of Interest

Management of Renewable Resources, Coupled Human and Natural Systems, Risk and Uncertainty, Invasive Species, Native Pests, Public Land Management, Optimal Control Theory, Dynamic Programming, Real Options, and Computable General Equilibrium

Biography
  • Director, Energy and Environment Program;
  • Associate Professor, Department of Economics;
  • PhD, Economics, University of Wyoming
complete bio
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Contact Information

Dr. Charles Sims
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-3825
Email: cbsims@utk.edu
Appointments: Susan Roberts, srobe102@utk.edu

Krista Wiegand
Dr. Krista E. Wiegand

Director, Global Security Program; Professor, Department of Political Science

Fields of Interest

Territorial and Maritime Disputes, Conflict Resolution/Management, War and Militarized Interstate Disputes, Terrorism and Political Violence, and Bargaining Strategies

Biography
  • Director, Global Security Program;
  • Associate Professor, Department of Political Science;
  • PhD, Political Science, Duke University
Complete bio
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Contact Information

Dr. Krista Wiegand
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-8681
Email: kwiegand@utk.edu
Appointments: Susan Roberts, srobe102@utk.edu

Jonathan Ring
Dr. Jonathan Ring

Director, Student Programs; Faculty Fellow, Global Security Program; Lecturer, Department of Political Science

Fields of Interest

International Relations, Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy, Conflict Processes, Transnational Activism, Human Rights, Global Governance, and Norm Diffusion

Biography
  • Director, Student Programs;
  • Lecturer, Department of Political Science;
  • PhD, Political Science, University of Iowa
complete bio
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Contact Information

Dr. Jonathan Ring
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-8574
Email: jring7@utk.edu
Appointments: Susan Roberts, srobe102@utk.edu

Policy Partnerships & External Affairs

Williams Bill Lyons
Dr. William “Bill” Lyons

Director, Public Policy Partnerships; Emeritus Professor, Department of Political Science


Fields of Interest

American Politics (Political Behavior; Campaigns and Elections; State and Local Government); Public Administration; Research Methods (Survey Research; Data Analysis)

Biography
  • Director, Policy Partnerships;
  • Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science;
  • PhD, Political Science, University of Oklahoma
complete bio
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Contact Information

Dr. William “Bill” Lyons
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: wlyons@utk.edu
Appointments: Susan Roberts, srobe102@utk.edu

David Smith
Dave Smith

Director, External Affairs

Biography

David “Dave” Smith is the Director of External Affairs for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Smith began his career in communications when he joined then-Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s gubernatorial campaign as press secretary in 2010. In Governor Haslam’s first term, Smith served as the governor’s press secretary and was later promoted to director of communications during Haslam’s second term.

Smith then became president of DAS Consulting, LLC for two years where he served as a public relations consultant. Since 2019, Smith has served as the director of communications for the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation in Nashville. Originally from Vermont, he has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from The George Washington University.

Contact Information

Dave Smith
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: david_smith@utk.edu

Amy Smotherman Burgess
Amy Smotherman Burgess

Digital Communications Manager


Biography

Amy Smotherman Burgess is the Digital Communications Manager for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After nearly two decades as a photojournalist between the Troy Daily News in Ohio, South Bend Tribune in Indiana and the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee, she ventured into the nonprofit world as Digital media and Public Relations manager for Zoo Knoxville.

Originally from Nashville, she is a 1998 graduate of Western Kentucky University’s photojournalism program. The job may change, but the heart remains the same, finding new and interesting ways to tell stories.

Contact Information

Amy Smotherman Burgess
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-3955
Email: aburges8@utk.edu

Patricia Contic
Patricia Ann Contic

Communications Manager

Biography

Patricia Ann Contic is the Communications Manager for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Contic worked in government relations and public relations in Washington, D.C. before moving to Tennessee in 2018. For the last four years, she was the Director of Communications for the Morristown Utilities Commission.

Contic has her M.A. in political management from George Washington University, a Paralegal Certification from the National Paralegal College and her B.A. in political science from West Virginia Wesleyan.

Contact Information

Patricia Ann Contic
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-3869
Email: pcontic@utk.edu

Elizabeth Woody

Events Coordinator


Biography

Elizabeth Woody is the Event Coordinator for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center of Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Woody has 14 years of experience in the higher education setting, 10 of those as a part of the Baker Center staff.

Woody has managed various events from distinguished lecture series, TN gubernatorial debates, an Ambassador lecture series to professional meetings. Those events have included speakers such as Peyton Manning, the Prime Minister of Japan, Tom Brokaw, and numerous ambassadors and elected officials. Woody provides specialized customer service, top-tier administrative support, and comprehensive event management.

Contact Information

Elizabeth Woody
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-3786
Email: ewoody2@utk.edu

Student Programs

Lindsay Herrell

Student Program Coordinator


Biography

Lindsay Herrell is the Student Programs Coordinator for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In her role, she coordinates the Baker Ambassadors and Baker Basics programs, while also supporting the Director of Student Programs with administering Baker Scholars, Washington Fellows, and the Baker Experience internships.  

Before moving to the Baker Center in July 2022, Herrell worked in academic advising and student programming for the Haslam College of Business here at UTK since March 2017. Currently, she is an instructor for the Haslam Leaders Series, a set of professional development courses focused on helping students build career competencies.

Herrell has her M.Ed. in higher education from East Tennessee State University and her B.A. in political science and history from King University.

Contact Information

Lindsay Herrell
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0942
Email: lherrell@utk.edu

Erica Ury

Student Program Coordinator


Biography

Erica Ury is a Student Programs Coordinator for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In her role, she coordinates the Baker Ambassadors and Baker Basics programs, while also supporting the Director of Student Programs with administering Baker Scholars, Washington Fellows, and the Baker Experience internships.  

Ury started her career in higher education as an admission counselor and served as the registrar at SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing and Health Sciences before moving to Tennessee in 2021. Prior to transitioning to the Baker Center in January 2023, Ury worked in academic advising for the Haslam College of Business here at UTK.

Ury has her M.S. in higher education administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Contact Information

Erica Ury
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974- 0942
Email: eury@utk.edu

Internal Operations

Claire McCoig

Assistant Director


Contact Information

Claire McCoig
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-8815
Email: cmccoig@utk.edu

Wendy Rast
Wendy Rast

Grants Manager

Contact Information

Wendy Rast
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-5653
Email: wrast@utk.edu

Susan Roberts
Susan Roberts

Office Manager


Contact Information

Susan Roberts
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: srobe102@utk.edu

Carol Bell
Carol Bell

Receptionist


Contact Information

Carol Bell
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: cbell69@utk.edu

Joint Faculty and Researchers

Benjamin Leard
Dr. Benjamin Leard

Research Associate, Energy and Environment Program; Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Fields of Interest

Environmental and Energy Economics, Environmental and Natural Resource Management

Contact Information

Dr. Benjamin Leard
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-1549
Email: bleard@utk.edu

Matthew Murray
Dr. Matthew Murray

Executive Director, Emeritus; Senior Research Fellow

Fields of Interest

Public Finance, Public Policy, Economic Development

Contact Information

Dr. Matthew Murray
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-6098
Email: mmurray1@utk.edu

Jilleah Welch
Dr. Jilleah Welch

Research Associate


Fields of Interest

Public Finance, Economics of Education, Environmental Economics

Contact Information

Dr. Jilleah Welch
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-8481
Email: jgwelch@utk.edu

Dr. Elis Vllasi

Senior Research Associate


Fields of Interest

Chinese/Russian Influence Operations, Transnational Ethnic Links and their Effects on Democratization, and Western Military Intervention and Nation-Building.

Contact Information

Dr. Elis Vllasi
Website: www.elisvllasi.com 
Email: evllasi@utk.edu

Post-Doctoral Research Fellows

Sojeong Lee
Dr. Sojeong Lee

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Global Security Program; Managing Editor, International Studies Quarterly

Fields of Interest

Water and Natural Resources, International Conflict, Climate Change and Environmental Issues, Security in East Asia

Contact Information

Dr. Sojeong Lee
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: slee138@utk.edu

Engagement

Visiting the Baker Center

Facilities & Reservations

Appalachian Leadership Institute

Institute of American Civics

Modern Political Archives

Baker Briefing Newsletter

News and Events

Podcast

Faculty

Faculty and Staff

Find an Expert

Faculty Fellows

Publications

Grants and Contracts

Research

Students

About Our Student Programs

Living Learning Community

Baker Ambassadors

Baker Scholars

Washington Fellows

Japan Ambassadors Program

Minor in Public Policy Analytics

Diplomacy Lab

Vols Vote

Tennessee Campus Civics Summit

University of Tennessee logo

1640 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931
Email: bakercenter@utk.edu

Engagement

Visiting the Baker Center

Facilities & Reservations

Appalachian Leadership Institute

Institute of American Civics

Modern Political Archives

Baker Briefing Newsletter

News and Events

Podcast

Faculty

Faculty and Staff

Find an Expert

Faculty Fellows

Publications

Grants and Contracts

Research

Modern Political Archive

Students

About Our Student Programs

Living Learning Community

Baker Ambassadors

Baker Scholars

Washington Fellows

Japan Ambassadors Program

Minor in Public Policy Analytics

Diplomacy Lab

Vols Vote

Tennessee Campus Civics Summit

University of Tennessee logo

“I increasingly believe that the essence of leadership...is to be an eloquent listener.”
—Howard H. Baker Jr.





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