TVA Spearheads University of Tennessee Nuclear Engineering Endowment
The Tennessee Valley Authority has invested $3 million to endow the chair of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Department of Nuclear Engineering. The endowment will advance academic excellence, workforce development and faculty recruitment within the department, which is ranked No. 3 among universities nationwide, and will further solidify UT's position as a leader in shaping the future of nuclear energy.
"This investment from Tennessee Valley Authority is a testament to both the strength of UT's nuclear engineering program and the importance of the nuclear energy sector to our region," said Chancellor Donde Plowman. "We are grateful to have an industry leader like TVA investing in our expertise and working alongside us to grow Tennessee's talent pipeline, drive innovation and help build East Tennessee's nuclear renaissance."
The partnership between UT and TVA, the nation's largest public power provider, reflects a shared vision for advancing clean energy solutions and strengthening East Tennessee's role as a hub for nuclear innovation. It builds on UT's long-standing commitment to advancing reactor technology, regulatory science and safety culture while preparing students through hands-on learning and cutting-edge research.
"TVA's endowment of the nuclear engineering department chair at the University of Tennessee is a strategic investment in America's energy future," said TVA President and CEO Don Moul. "By supporting the development of a highly skilled homegrown nuclear workforce, we're ensuring that TVA and our industry partners have access to the talent needed to meet the growing demands of the nuclear sector in East Tennessee and across the Valley. This partnership will help train the next generation of engineers, researchers and technicians while strengthening the pipeline of innovation and leadership that will power our region for decades to come."
Advancing excellence in nuclear engineering
The collaboration with TVA is vital to meeting the growing demands of the nuclear industry and the workforce needed to sustain it. Brian Wirth, UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor's Chair for Computational Nuclear Engineering and the inaugural chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, plans to leverage the endowment to hire world-class instructional faculty and deepen UT's partnership with TVA.
"This is an incredible opportunity to expand our collaboration with TVA and train engineers who will help realize TVA's commitment to bringing a substantial amount of new nuclear power to the grid," Wirth said. "With this endowment, we can become a major support source for the workforce TVA is going to need to build new nuclear power plants."
TVA currently operates three nuclear power plants capable of generating an average of 8,275 megawatts of electricity each day — enough to power more than 4.5 million homes and businesses — and nuclear power makes up about 42% of TVA's diversified energy generation portfolio. In addition, TVA is leading groundbreaking initiatives at its Clinch River nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where it is pursuing the development of small modular reactors to produce new nuclear energy.
East Tennessee: A hub for nuclear energy
East Tennessee has become an epicenter for nuclear research and innovation, with numerous nuclear energy companies moving to the area and constructing power-generating demonstration plants, reactors and uranium enrichment facilities to help fulfill the nation's growing clean energy needs.
As part of a strategy to position the state as a leader in nuclear innovation, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee created the Nuclear Energy Fund, which has provided more than $60 million for the advancement of nuclear technologies.
With the support of the fund, UT launched a nuclear engineering minor in 2024 to better prepare students for careers in the nuclear industry and to meet industry demands. Moul, through his role on the Department of Nuclear Engineering Board of Advisors, provided input on the needs and requirements of the minor, bolstering the collaboration between UT and TVA.
Investing in the future
For more than 90 years, TVA has been at the forefront of delivering reliable energy while supporting environmental stewardship and driving economic development. The endowment strengthens this legacy by investing in the future of clean energy innovation and by empowering UT students, faculty and industry partners to develop advanced nuclear technologies and a skilled workforce capable of addressing global energy challenges. Together, TVA and UT are shaping a sustainable and secure energy system that will benefit generations to come.
"The college is grateful for the partnership with TVA and this remarkable endowment, which guarantees sustained excellence in leadership for our nuclear engineering program," said Matthew Mench, Tickle College of Engineering dean and Wayne T. Davis Dean's Chair. "TVA's investment equips the nuclear department with vital resources to continue to provide a world-class education in a field that is instrumental to the future of our state, region and country."
Provided by University of Tennessee at Knoxville
