Your Impact
Your Impact
Stories of Transformation
At the Baker School, every student story is a testament to the power of philanthropy. Your support creates life-changing opportunities—enabling students to grow into ethical, informed leaders ready to shape public policy across Tennessee and the nation.
Scholarship Spotlight: Paying It Forward
Tennessee State Senator Bill Powers and his wife Fran were among the first to endow a scholarship at the Baker School. The couple caught up with the first recipient of that scholarship—Charlie Olita, a public affairs major from Clarksville, Tennessee, last year.
It was a full-circle moment for Senator Powers as he reflected on the opportunity to pay it forward for the next generation—especially for students like Charlie, who also call Montgomery County home. This connection highlights how donor generosity directly shapes the future of civic-minded leaders across the state.
Travel Program: Washington D.C.
Through the Washington Fellows program, students from across the University of Tennessee spend two weeks in Washington, D.C., gaining firsthand exposure to policymaking and leadership at the national level. In this interview, Collin Cates shares how the experience deepened his interest in public policy, the value of connecting with peers and leaders, and the unique opportunities made possible by the Baker Center and donor support. His reflections highlight the legacy of Senator Howard H. Baker Jr. and the impact of providing students with meaningful pathways to engage in public service.
Travel Program: Japan Ambassadors
Through the Japan Ambassadors program, Hope Greene spent two weeks immersed in Japanese history, politics, and culture while engaging directly with policymakers and peers abroad. Supported by the Baker Fund, this experience sharpened essential skills like active listening and cross-cultural communication, deepened his understanding of U.S.–Japan relations, and influenced his vision for future work in national security. Donor support makes opportunities like this possible, helping students expand their education beyond the classroom and onto the global stage
Research Highlights
Your gifts fuel interdisciplinary, high-impact policy research that addresses pressing global and regional challenges. Through the Baker School’s research centers, your support drives innovative solutions at the intersection of energy, security, and sustainability.
These centers exemplify the Baker School’s commitment to policy-driven research and real-world collaboration—where your support empowers students, informs decision-makers, and builds a more resilient, informed society.
National Security & Foreign Affairs
NSFA conducts policy-relevant research on Indo-Pacific security, U.S.–Japan relations, maritime law, nuclear deterrence, and global economic resilience.
Recent studies focus on disinformation and propaganda, rare-earth mineral vulnerabilities, and geopolitical supply chain stability amid U.S.–China competition.
Public engagement includes forums, workshops, and the Japan Ambassadors student program—providing experiential learning in foreign affairs.
Energy, Transportation & environmental Policy
The Valley Pathways Study is a landmark initiative mapping decarbonization strategies across the Tennessee Valley, offering actionable solutions for a low-carbon future.
Research includes rare-earth supply chain risks, economic impacts of light-duty vehicle longevity, natural gas development, and evaluation of small modular nuclear reactors.
The TVA Distinguished Professorship, backed by a $1 million endowment, enhances regional leadership in energy and environmental policy under Dr. Charles Sims.
CETEP collaborates with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and federal/state agencies to ensure evidence-based, scalable impact.
Institute of American Civics
Gifts to IAC support the mission to cultivate informed, engaged, and principled citizens. Contributions help students explore the foundations of democracy and prepare to become tomorrow’s leaders.
From scholarships like the Tocqueville Scholars program to initiatives such as the Tennessee Civics Academy, every gift fuels opportunities for students and educators. Each contribution expands access and strengthens civic education across Tennessee and beyond.
Generosity also makes possible the research, public programming, and community conversations that bring people together across differences. These efforts ensure civic understanding and engagement remain at the heart of democracy.