The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has announced a strategic partnership between its Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The collaboration aims to enrich UT’s curricular offerings in nuclear policy and national security while enhancing the capabilities of ORNL’s technical staff.
To formalize the partnership, Krista Wiegand, professor and director of the Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs at the Baker School, joined Moe Khaleel, Oak Ridge National Laboratory associate laboratory director, for a ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding between UT and UT-Battelle — the management and operating contractor for ORNL — on Sept. 5.
“It is a natural partnership between the Baker School and ORNL to work together training students in nuclear policy, nuclear security and national security,” said Wiegand. “We are excited to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for careers in these fields and to broaden the expertise of ORNL technical staff in public policy.”
Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate to enhance ORNL’s workforce development and prepare UT students with updated course offerings in public policy and public affairs through ORNL’s new National Security Science Academy initiative. The Baker School will concentrate on increasing public policy knowledge and providing workforce development for ORNL technical staff, while ORNL will contribute subject-matter expertise and insights on workforce needs in nuclear policy and national security.
“The missions we serve constantly require creative new ways of looking at issues and a workforce prepared to address emerging challenges from many perspectives,” said Khaleel. “We are thrilled to partner with the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs to launch new initiatives aimed at enhancing our workforce.”
New Nuclear Security Certificate Program
The benefits of the agreement are already evident with the development of the Baker School’s new nuclear security certificate program, which is pending Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approval. Three members from ORNL’s National Security Sciences Department have begun course work in the area, and ORNL leadership has assisted in the design and content of the curriculum.
The nuclear security certificate will equip students with the knowledge necessary to address the unique challenges associated with the security and management of nuclear weapons, materials and facilities. Students will be engaged in topics such as U.S. nuclear security policies, deterrent strategy, nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation, arms control, export control, safeguards and potential threats.
The Baker School and ORNL will regularly review content and curricula requirements for revisions and updates, seek joint proposal topics and funding sources, and assess workforce development needs in areas of nuclear policy and national security.
About the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
The Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs is the first and only school of its kind at any public university in Tennessee. Its mission is to graduate skilled public problem solvers prepared to take leadership roles as public servants, public administrators, policy analysts, policy entrepreneurs and candidates for public office.
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Media Contact:
Cindi King (865-974-0937, cking126@utk.edu)
Kate Reagan, (865-974-0942, kmahar@utk.edu)