About Us
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
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
Dr. Katie A. Cahill
Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; 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
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
Brewton Brownlow Couch
Chief of Staff, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
Biography
Brewton Brownlow Couch was the Chief Strategy Officer at the United Way of Greater Knoxville before joining the Baker Center as Chief of Staff. In addition to her strategy role at the United Way, Brewton has also been leading the change management process associated with becoming a modern United Way. Brewton is a former attorney turned marketing and business development advocate, with a career that includes positions as Vice President of Branding and Messaging at United Way, head of Marketing at a software company, and Assistant General Counsel at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Brewton earned her JD from the University of Tennessee College of Law and a BA in Economics from Davidson College. She returned to her hometown of Knoxville, TN five years ago to join the United Way network.
Contact Information
Brewton Brownlow Couch
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
Program Directors
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jarrod Suits
Director of Advancement
Biography
Jarrod Suits is the Director of Advancement for the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Before his arrival at the Baker Center, Jarrod was part of the Annual Giving team on the Knoxville Campus. He oversaw the Leadership Annual Giving Program. Prior to joining UT, Jarrod worked 17 years for religious nonprofits. During this time, he focused on empowering communities around the world through servant leadership and development. He led volunteers in Costa Rica, Ecuador, South Sudan, and many other locations.
Jarrod values stories and how they encourage us to make our own stories matter to others. Originally from Cleveland, TN, he attended East Tennessee State University where he served as Student Government President and was an intern for Senator Lamar Alexander’s regional office.
Contact Information
Jarrod Suits
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-2797
Email: jsuits3@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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Dr. Jilleah Welch
Senior 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
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
