Bill Lyons returning to UTK as the Baker Center’s Director of Policy Partnerships
Bill Lyons is returning to his longtime roots at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK).
The Emeritus Professor of Political Science who then served four City of Knoxville Mayors in a variety of senior roles has been named the inaugural Director of Policy Partnerships for the UTK Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. He begins his new duties next Monday.
As described in this news release, Lyons’ new role “will drive the university’s policy engagement on issues of local importance, connecting policymakers and community leaders with campus experts and resources. With decades of experience in politics and policy, Lyons will also serve as a mentor to undergraduate students in the Baker Scholars program and students in UTK’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program.”
“There is no better person to lead the Baker Center’s policy partnerships than Bill Lyons,” said Marianne Wanamaker, Baker Center Executive Director. “Bill is respected by Tennesseans from across the state and from all parts of the political spectrum. The Baker Center is extraordinarily fortunate that he has agreed to join our team.”
Lyons served as the Senior Director of Economic Development, Senior Director of Policy Development, and Senior Director of Policy and Communications for former Mayors Bill Haslam and Daniel Brown. Next, he served as Deputy and Chief Policy Officer under former Mayor Madeline Rogero and was a Senior Advisor to current Mayor Indya Kincannon during her transition in 2019 and 2020.
