Well before Illinois native Louie Perry set foot in the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, he had already stepped into the world of politics. From attending the 2017 presidential inauguration in Washington D.C., to working on the 2022 Illinois gubernatorial primary, he gained an early, firsthand look at public service in action.
By high school, this passion turned into action.
His first internship experience began when he joined the re-election campaign for the state’s Senate minority leader as a door knocker. These experiences introduced him to the fast pace and unpredictability of campaign work.
“This internship gave me a glimpse at what politics and campaign work can be,” he said, “and ever since, I’ve been hooked.”
Soon after, he was on the ground in Iowa, taking part in caucus efforts for the 2024 presidential primary election and seeing how national politics played out at the local level. It was an environment where policy moved beyond textbooks and instead into conversations with voters.
He also served as a page at the Republican National Convention, focusing on supporting delegate and convention coordination.
When Perry arrived at the University of Tennessee, he was looking for a place where his political curiosity could be shaped further by academic rigor. He found that environment at the Baker School.
At Baker, Perry began connecting his campaign experiences to larger institutional frameworks. Classes, events, and daily conversations helped him deepen his understanding beyond first hand involvement.
“Once I saw the countless fellowships, programs, events, and courses available at the Baker School,” he said, “I knew I would be missing out.”
His academic interests soon expanded beyond domestic politics. By adding a minor in Middle East studies and studying Modern Hebrew, Perry began approaching foreign policy with historical and cultural context rather than solely through a political lens. It reshaped how he understood the relationship between governments and the people that they represent.
That perspective has continued to grow through experience. In fall 2024, Perry joined Senator Marsha Blackburn’s campaign team, engaging directly with voters across Tennessee. The following summer, an internship with Governor Bill Lee’s administration offered a different vantage point, showing how policy is carried out across agencies and departments.
In March, Perry traveled to New York City as a United Nations Fellow, attending the Commission on the Status of Women and participating in events hosted by countries, UN organizations, and NGOs.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to dip my toe in the water of diplomacy and international affairs,” Perry said. “It gave me a chance to see how I could pursue this as a career.”
On campus, Perry serves as a student assistant at the Baker School, supporting daily operations, events, and faculty. The role has created additional opportunities to engage with leaders in government, scholarship, and public service, reinforcing what he is learning in the classroom.
What began with watching debates on a screen has evolved into experiences across classrooms, capitol buildings, and conference halls, each shaping a broader understanding of how policy connects people, communities, and nations.
Madeline Neff, author
Madeline (Maddie) is a student at the University of Tennessee, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She is a communications intern at the Baker School, focusing on website design, story creation and social media.