2025 Graduate Spotlight: Lucas Garrett Johnson
Lucas Garrett Johnson is preparing to step into a new role as a Budget Analyst for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration’s Budget Division after graduating from the University of Tennessee with his Master of Public Administration with a concentration in economic and community development.
Lucas served as a student voting member on the campus Traffic and Parking Authority Committee for nearly three years, and became involved with the Baker School Student Association as a graduate student. These leadership roles, along with his participation in the Baker Graduate Student Association and the Sustainable Development ARC ACRI project, helped shape his time at the university. He traveled to Washington, D.C., with his classmates to present findings from a downtown improvement plan for a rural Appalachian city, a project made possible by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative.
“The people, experiences, and education I have been exposed to at the Baker School have prepared me in every way to succeed in the next stage of my life,” Lucas shared. Lucas credits his peers and mentors as having the most significant impact on his experience at Baker. Notable influences include Assistant Director of Graduate Operations Zoe Webb and Dr. Su Su, who were among his first contacts at the Baker School and later became colleagues. Lucas also commends Dr. Tim Fitzgerald for his unique and personal approach to teaching.
As Lucas steps into his new role as a Budget Analyst, the strong foundation he built at the Baker School will propel him toward a successful career.