Institute News

I like to fish. Especially, fly fish.

But there’s something I like better.

I really enjoy teaching others to fish: to tie flies, build fly rods, to make a cast, a mend, a drift, a strike and a catch (and maybe release).

I like to catch fish—most any kind, or any size, sometimes “the big one.”

You might not believe it, but I enjoy even more, when people I love, or have invested in (spouse, grandkids, daughters, maybe even sons-in-law, etc.), do the catching. The joy comes with any kind, any size. But especially when they get “the big one.”

Often, when I am catching up with different colleagues across the state, one of the most common similarities is how busy people are at work and at home. Most people know my busy schedule includes a career at IPS, juggling being a student in school, and being a sports mom to a very busy teenager. In today’s fast-paced world, leaders often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities and tasks. 

I found the Firefighter’s Prayer and Statue in New York City to be very moving. We have a great privilege to work with first responders who run the risk of not coming home because of the inherent dangers that go with their service. I’m grateful that there are public servants who consider these risks and are willing to put their lives on the line for others. 

While it’s not the same, anyone stepping up in a leadership role must take risks. Sometimes those risks could potentially result in loss. 

The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS) will receive $2 million recurring from the state to establish a dedicated local planning function, assisting Tennessee’s cities and counties with economic development, zoning and infrastructure planning.

I have been asking myself this question often lately. Between the COVID pandemic and now the political landscape, we have had to navigate many unsettling and uncertain times in the past five years. How do we make good decisions with so many unknowns? How do we provide reassurance when we don’t know what the future holds? How do we continue to expand our work without guarantee that we will have the resources to continue? I have been contemplating these questions lately. Here are some thoughts:
 

Just this last week, someone in a lunch meeting said, “Let me plant a seed…”

It’s a phrase I’ve probably heard hundreds of times before. My grandfather planted the seeds that led to a love of woodworking and woodcarving. My father sowed seeds that led to speaking in public, a love of animals and, when I was 40 years old, fly fishing.

The seed Drs. John Smalling and Bill Hicks started grew into a doctoral degree many years after being planted.

The 2025-2026 scholarship applications for the Mary & Jack Jinks’ Scholarship and the Marie & Jim Murphy (CTAS/COAT) Scholarship are now available. The fillable applications are below. 

The deadline for applications is Friday, June 6, 2025.

Mary and Jack Jinks Scholarship

Servant leadership has gained significant traction in both public and private sectors as a practical approach to leadership that prioritizes the needs of others, fosters community and empowers individuals to perform at their best. Within the University of Tennessee's Institute for Public Service (IPS), which focuses on delivering expert training, consulting and research to support government officials and businesses, servant leadership plays a critical role in meeting the customer service needs of its stakeholders.

Have you ever waited at a railroad crossing and marveled at the graffiti messages written on the shipping containers and box cars going by? I like to try to figure out the intricate words created with a can, or cans, of spray paint and someone’s imagination. Invariably, even with the slowest moving trains and my best efforts, the cars go by, and the message disappears down the track along with any understanding I hoped to gain.

Sometimes I wonder if other people struggle to get the message too. 

If you’ve never read Winnie the Pooh books or watched Winnie the Pooh videos, you’re missing a wealth of life lessons about kindness, friendship and simply getting along with others. It’s been many years since I watched Winnie the Pooh videos over and over with my daughter and even longer since I read the books.