Baker alum finds his way in local government
Following the legacy of one of Tennessee’s most outstanding public servants, Howard H. Baker Jr., our students have opportunities to develop problem-solving skills inside and outside the classroom as they prepare to pursue meaningful careers in public service.
Recent graduate John Turner is putting the skills he developed at UT to work and enjoying early career success as the director of business attractions at the Knoxville Chamber. His day-to-day work includes recruiting new businesses and industries to the community for the economic development arm for the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Turner responds to requests for real estate information from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) and the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Economic Development Team.
This is Turner’s first year in the workforce. Graduating in May 2023, he feels his undergraduate studies, as an economics major and public policy analytics minor, helped him prepare for his position. “The Baker School taught me how to work collaboratively with different levels of government,” Turner said. He notes his work with TVA (quasi-federal), TNECD (state), and the governments of Knoxville and Knox County (local) as examples of the variety of policymakers he collaborates with.
The Baker School’s Public Policy Analytics Minor predates the school as it was part of the academic programming of the Baker Center. The minor develops skills to employ advanced analytical methods critical to the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy. Students use analytical tools from economics and political science, quantitative methods, and program evaluation techniques on a subject matter from a selected public policy field to develop a portfolio that requires hands-on applications in conducting public policy research.
In his current work recruiting potential businesses and industries to move to the area, Turner can communicate data effectively using visualization and graphical methods because of the skills and tools he learned in the Public Policy Analytics minor.
Turner participated in one of the Baker School’s experiential learning programs to gain real-world and hands-on experience outside of the classroom. He was among the first to be a part of the Local Government Intern Program. Students in the program explore careers in public service and public policy through internships. Turner completed internships at Knoxville Chamber and Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation. Both gave him experiences he continues to draw on in his current position as he represents Knoxville and the state of Tennessee at different tradeshows and conferences across the U.S. and hosts potential companies and consultants for site visits.
The site visits are his favorite part of the job, giving prospective companies tours of Knoxville and introducing them to regional assets like the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL), and TVA.
“It was powerful for the company to meet their future workforce in such a relaxed environment,” Turner states about a company’s site visit that included a lunch with TCAT-Knoxville students. “Likewise, the students were excited to learn that they are desired and an important factor for companies considering a new location.” That company has since announced a major project within Knox County.
When Baker students graduate, they have a strong commitment to public service.
Turner fulfills that commitment to public service in his role. “I enjoy the aspect of bringing new, high-paying jobs to Knoxville and subsequently improving the quality of life for people within our region.”