Hans Goertz joined the Smith Center in 2019 and serves as the Assistant Director for Project Development. Goertz supports the Smith Center in promoting global engagement across the Institute by assisting with research development and project management for extramural funding. In this role, he works closely with the UTIA Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED), and other research administration and development units at UT. He also provides strategic direction to the USAID-funded Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOFT) Farmer-to-Farmer program as the ALOFT Associate Director.

Goertz has worked with the University of Tennessee since 2017. His first role was as a project manager for a NASA-funded research and education center with the College of Engineering. Goertz has a multidisciplinary background in international development studies, with a focus on program design and evaluation. He has carried out various research and humanitarian assistance roles in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.