November 20, 2012



Dear Friends,

With Thanksgiving just two days away, I would like to thank you for your
ongoing support and interest in the Baker Center’s programmatic initiatives.
Over the last 12 months the Baker Center staff has worked tirelessly to fulfill
our strategic objectives of advancing public programming, student engagement,
and policy research activities at the Center.

Since January of 2012, the Baker Center has hosted almost 30 public events
ranging from panel discussions on media, politics, and incivility to a series of
seminars on energy and environmental policy. Spring culminated with a
presentation on environmental policy by former Governor and EPA Administrator
Christine Todd Whitman and we kicked off fall with a keynote address given by
former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell on the important role local government’s play
in shaping public policy. And just last week, the Baker Center was honored to
host Senator George Mitchell as the inaugural lecturer of the Baker
Distinguished Lecture Series. Each of the aforementioned events garnered the
attention of UT students, faculty, administrators, and members of the Knoxville
community whose presence signified their investment in the future of the Baker
Center.

The Baker Center has also made great strides to enhance the overall
experience of Baker Scholars, Baker Ambassadors, and members of the
Freshman Living and Learning Community. Earlier this year, for example, Senator
Baker was on hand to recognize the research projects completed by graduating
Baker Scholars at the Baker Center’s first medallion ceremony. In addition, a
group of our Baker Ambassadors led the University’s efforts in organizing
DebateWatch, a national event which garnered the attention of local media
outlets as well as the internationally esteemed Forbes Magazine. Our students
also facilitated registration of over 500 new voters in anticipation of the
November election.

To raise awareness of our abilities to conduct policy research, the Baker Center
issued a 16 page policy brief entitled, “Addressing Issues Concerning Energy
and the Environment: A Short Course on Energy Policy Analysis” in September.
This policy brief is the first of a series of short essays intended to serve as an
objective nonpartisan source of information on subjects that are at the
forefront of public debate in the areas of energy policy, environmental policy
and global security.

As you begin to make your charitable gifts this holiday season, I encourage you
to consider supporting the Baker Center at the University of Tennessee-
Knoxville. Unlike other campus units, the Baker Center does not receive direct
state aid, but remains committed to providing quality programs free and open
to the public.

More than ever before private sources of funding are needed to help underwrite
the costs of the Center’s programs and events. Regardless of the size of the
gift, we are most thankful for your willingness to support our efforts. For those
of you who have given this year, I would like to, again, extend a word of
gratitude for providing funding to the Baker Center. If you have not yet made
a donation to the Baker Center, you can do so online at:
http://tinyurl.com/cf8ojr4

or send a check made payable to the University of Tennessee and mail to:

Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37996

As I look back on the last year I am so proud of what we have been able to
achieve but realize that so much more must be accomplished in order to ascend
the ranks of the nation’s top policy research centers. As we enter into our
tenth year of service, I am confident that the best years at the Baker Center
still lie ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving,

 
Matt Murray, Ph.D.