Hope greene’s Path to a career in national security
By Vivian DiSalvo (Class of 2026)
October 30, 2026
While dining in Washington DC on a trip, Hope Greene watched a congressman sit down a couple of tables away.
Looking at that congressman, Greene saw a glimpse of what her future could look like.
She saw a future where she could be a policymaker in national security. She could be a strategic advisor focusing on intelligence and emerging risks. She could be an international negotiator who drafts treaties and trade agreements. She could be a diplomat who develops security and military strategies.
Greene experienced this moment of clarity on a trip led by the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. It helped her see that no matter which path she decides to take, she wants to serve the people around her. Giving back to those who paved the way for her and those who will follow in her own footsteps is exactly how she defines being a Volunteer.
“I want to become a part of that community that serves not just UT, but that serves the entire world in national security,” says Greene. “I get to take my love of learning and my love of change and put it into something that serves the American people.”
Without donors, I would never have this experience where I was immersed in the field I hope to serve in one day. Because of their support, I am able to go on these trips and do research.”
hope greene (Class of 2027)
Hope Greene and Chancellor Donde Plowman on the Baker School’s Japan Ambassadors trip.
A senior studying public affairs with concentrations in national security and nuclear policy, Greene has pursued many learning opportunities within the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, such as the Washington Fellows and Japan Ambassadors programs.
These experiences help students like Greene develop as world leaders who can then give back to Volunteers and impact the state of Tennessee and beyond.
Greene applied for the Washington Fellows Program during her freshman year. The program offers students a 10-day educational trip to Washington, DC, that explores public policy and builds professional development skills.
“The purpose of the spring break Washington Fellows program is to enhance students’ understanding of national security and foreign affairs through firsthand exposure to policymakers, practitioners, and institutions in Washington, DC,” says Jordan Smith-Porter, assistant director of student success for the Baker School. “Greene read about national security in the classroom, but she took full advantage of the chance to sit across the table from people who shape and contribute to national security policy.”
Through networks of university friends and alumni, students like Greene had the opportunity to visit institutions such as the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, embassies, and leading think tanks and to have conversations with public servants, researchers, journalists, and policy professionals.
Experiences like these provide students with a firsthand look at the work being done in Washington DC and the different paths they can take in their chosen fields.
The program also includes a class that equips students with the skills needed to work in public policy through guest lectures, career exploration, and hands-on activities outside the classroom.
Greene also visited Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic home, where she participated in a national security simulation through the George Washington Leadership Institute.
“The trip was incredibly influential and strengthened my understanding of national security,” says Greene. “As the inaugural cohort of Baker students, we all got really close, so that trip really formed my college support system in addition to being immersive and educational.”
UT supporters and donors have made everything possible for me. Because of their support, I am able to go on trips to do research through the Baker School, to be a part of these organizations that they help fund on campus, and I feel so much more prepared for my professional life.”
HOPE GREENE (class of 2027)
With the help of financial support from the Baker School, Greene went on the trip without financial burden, allowing her to focus on her education and the experience. Donor support helps make opportunities like this possible for students.
Volunteers invested in her education, helping to build a well-rounded leader in national security who is developing skillsets that could help her negotiate peace treaties and develop policies for the American people.
“Without donors, I would never have this experience where I was immersed in the field I hope to serve in one day,” says Greene. “Because of their support, I am able to go on these trips and do research.”
The program not only introduced Greene to the work of national security professionals but also showed her the potential impact of a career in the field.
In addition to her visit to Washington DC, Greene also studied abroad in Japan as a Baker School Japan Ambassador, following in the footsteps of Howard H. Baker Jr., a former US ambassador to Japan. The program, which is open to all majors, is designed to help students learn about foreign policy in Japan, Japanese politics, diplomacy, and East Asian issues from US diplomatic staff.
While in Japan, Greene visited Kobe, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Tokyo, observing local shrines, meeting with local students, and learning all about Japanese culture. She was even able to visit Tokyo’s only University of Tennessee-themed bar.
“We met with several local students at Kobe University, and the second day we were with them, they got us pizza from Costco to ‘remind us of home,’” says Greene. “In exchange, we taught them how to sing Rocky Top and dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe. We were exchanging culture surrounding policy and ideas, but also art and popular culture as well.”
As part of the experience, each student researched Japanese politics and government and completed a policy memo. Greene used her time in Japan to examine how gender roles affect the country’s political and economic climate.
The research gave Greene a deeper understanding of the issues shaping policy and how policy decisions affect people’s lives. It also allowed her to explore the kind of work she hopes to pursue professionally.
Greene received funding for the trip through the Baker School Fund, which provides flexible funding for scholarships, student opportunities, and other priorities and initiatives that advance the mission of the Baker School. Thanks to donors who contributed to the fund, Greene was able to focus wholly on her learning throughout her time in Japan.
“I wouldn’t have been able to go on this trip without a scholarship,” says Greene. “I feel so much more prepared for professional life because of the opportunities afforded to me by alumni and donors who invest in my experience.”
UT is home to me because of the Volunteer mentality. It’s made up of people who want to give back to their community and serve those around them. That mentality is what progresses UT forward through students like me.”
hope greene (Class of 2027)
In addition to these programs, Greene’s involvement spans across campus. She serves as the vice president of campus relations for the Gamma Nu chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta, the president of the Alexander Hamilton Society, a member of the standards board of Women in Politics, and a member of the Student Alumni Association.
Scholarship support allows her to make the most of her time at UT without having to worry about finances. Along with financial support she’s received from the Baker School, Greene receives scholarship support from the Tennessee Family Association, funded by gifts to the Parents and Families Fund. That support has given her the time and ability to be involved and engaged on campus.
“UT supporters and donors have made everything possible for me,” says Greene. “Because of their support, I am able to go on trips to do research through the Baker School, to be a part of these organizations that they help fund on campus, and I feel so much more prepared for my professional life.”
After graduation, she hopes to serve not just her community at UT, but communities across the country through her work in national security.
“UT is home to me because of the Volunteer mentality,” says Greene. “It’s made up of people who want to give back to their community and serve those around them. That mentality is what progresses UT forward through students like me.”
In Washington, DC, Greene caught a glimpse of the policymaker she might one day become. With the support of the Volunteer community behind her, she hopes to turn that vision into a career of service and open doors for those who follow.
Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Baker School Fund provides flexible support for scholarships, programming, experiential learning, and other priorities across the school. Your gift can help students like Greene prepare to become the next generation of public servants.
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