State Leaders Explore Economic Impact of UT Research

Stuart McWhorter, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, visited the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, on June 26 to hear from researchers, tour facilities and view demonstrations of work that supports the state.

McWhorter toured the Zeanah Engineering Complex; met with UT’s nuclear engineering faculty and learned about their extensive partnerships with Tennessee companies, Oak Ridge National Lab and the Y-12 National Security Complex; and met with Chancellor Plowman to discuss statewide innovation and research initiatives.

“Our strengths in key areas like nuclear energy, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence align with both the needs of our nation and the priorities of the state,” said Chancellor Donde Plowman. “I’m grateful to the commissioner, his team, and everyone at the state for their partnership. Together, we are elevating research that makes a difference in the lives of Tennesseans and people everywhere.”

UT faculty are at the forefront of research in nuclear energy and security. UT and Consolidated Nuclear Security, which manages and operates Y-12 for the National Nuclear Security Administration, recently announced a partnership to establish a National Security Prototype Center in Oak Ridge to solve complex manufacturing problems in the nuclear sector. And last year UT was awarded a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to revolutionize the design and manufacturing of high-performance materials for fusion energy systems.

UT also continues to break research records, reporting expenditures totaling $387 million in 2024, building on 2023’s record by almost $50 million. The growth is, in part, tied to a shift in the university’s research strategy to prioritize multidisciplinary projects that yield creative solutions to problems facing the state and the nation.

“The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is an exceptional research partner, and I was grateful for the opportunity to see firsthand some of the impactful initiatives we’ve collaborated on over the past year,” said McWhorter. “Following Gov. Bill Lee’s lead, we’re working to transform Tennessee’s innovation ecosystem, and TNECD plays a vital role in bridging world-class research with industry needs. Strengthening these connections through continued engagement, like yesterday’s visit, is essential to driving progress across our state.”

McWhorter has served as TNECD commissioner since July 2022. During his tenure, TNECD has secured 250 projects, which represent more than 33,800 job commitments and $19.5 billion in capital investment. In 2024, TNECD awarded grants to the Center for Transportation Research at UT and the UT Space Institute through the Transportation Network Growth Opportunity initiative and worked with Governor Lee to help establish UT’s nuclear engineering minor through funding from Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund.

J. Wesley Hines, Postelle Professor and Chancellor’s Professor, and Brian D. Wirth, department head and UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair, speak with Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter while taking a tour of the Zeanah Engineering Complex and the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee on June 26, 2025.

From left to right: Associate Department Head Jamie Coble, UT System President Randy Boyd, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, Department Head and UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair Brian Wirth, and Postelle Professor and Chancellor’s Professor J. Wesley Hines.

Brian Wirth, department head and UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair, gives a tour to Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter through the Zeanah Engineering Complex and the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee.

From left to right: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, Jamie B Coble, associate department head, Brian Wirth, department head and UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair, J. Wesley Hines, Postelle Professor and Chancellor’s Professor, pose for group photo outside the Kairos Power Operator Training Simulation Laboratory while giving a tour of Zeanah Engineering Complex and the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee on June 26, 2025.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Johnson (865-974-4448, jjohn522@utk.edu)