About Our Chapter

What is PRSSA?

Public Relations Society of America, the world’s largest public relations professional organization, founded PRSSA in 1968. The purpose was to cultivate a mutually advantageous relationship between public relations students and professional public relations practitioners. It further aims to foster a student's understanding of modern theories and procedures, to instill in them a professional attitude, and to encourage them to adhere to the highest ideals of the practice of public relations. Today The Public Relations Student Society of America has more than 9,600 members in 284 universities across the country.

Please check out our "Why Join?" section below to see why PRSSA might be right for you!

PRSSA Mission

The Sammie Lynn Puett Chapter

The Univeristy of Tennessee, Knoxville chapter of PRSSA was established in 1973. Today, the chapter has more than 100 members. The Sammie Lynn Puett Chapter works closely with the local Public Relations Society of America chapter, the Volunteer Chapter. 

The UT chapter is dedicated to Sammie Lynn Puett, who tragically passed away in the Fall of 2000.

The Sammie Lynn Puett Chapter Mission

The mission of the University of Tennessee Public Relations Student Society of America is to offer members beneficial relationships with public relations practitioners that facilitate the learning, acquiring and development of professional skills -supplemented by educational knowledge- to be applied in everyday decisions.

Upholding the Mission

Offering beneficial relationships to students: All students regardless of major or year in school are welcome to participate in any PRSSA activity. The chapter also hosts social activities to give members the chance to associate on a personal level. Each member of PRSSA is empowered to create ideas and programs for the chapter. The elected chapter’s Executive Board will serve as a guiding body for the development and advancement of the chapter.

Creating beneficial relationships between students and professionals: A faculty advisor and two PRSA professional advisors are available to help PRSSA students. In addition, the chapter invites professionals to speak at meetings to expose students to various sides of the public relations profession. These speakers are excellent contacts for PRSSA members. Finally, PRSSA provides networking opportunities at regional and national conferences and provides members with publications such as Forum (PRSSA newsletter distributed three times per year), Connecting With PRSSA (Bi-monthly newsletter), and PR Tactics (PRSA primary publication).

Enabling students to learn, acquire, develop and perfect their public relations skills: PRSSA offers students public relations opportunities at all levels. Learning is achieved through participating in regional and national conferences. Acquiring is achieved through regular attendance at meetings, interaction with speakers and professionals and individual motivation to explore various aspects of the chapter. Development is achieved through various writing opportunities in the FORUM. Perfecting is achieved through leadership positions in the chapter. Each member’s commitment to a job well done will result in professional “know-how” and personal accomplishment.

In a professional atmosphere: PRSSA is a professional organization that strives to expose its members to experiences he or she is likely to encounter after college. Professionals are available for consultation and should be used accordingly. Professionals also have fun and this is standard in this organization. Ultimately, the members expect 100 percent effort from their peers in responsibilities…as long as that is evident, results do not matter.

When Sammie Lynn Puett was an undergraduate at The University of Tennessee Knoxville, she was also the part-time secretary for Prof. Willis C. Tucker, the director of the School of Journalism.

It was that role, a number of her students who also studied under Prof. Tucker came to believe was the basis for one of her many celebrated talents--masterful editor. They were certain she had absorbed it from Professor Tucker, an editor of some renound among students himself.

"Of all her careers, Sammie Lynn was at heart an editor," said John Clark, executive director of Public Information at UT, who worked with her for many years. "I often felt the sting of her red pencil. And she was always right."

"Despite her skills with language," he added, "she really didn't know the meaning of the word 'no.' She'd jump right in, find a way, and usually emerge victorious."

After an impressive career as the editor of Tennessee Town and City magazine and a columnist for Nation's Cities magazine, when she returned to the School of Journalism as an assistant professor, it seemed inevitable that editing was one of the first courses she taught.

She became famous among students for her trips between her office and the editing lab, pushing a cart piled high with editing assignments. In her classes, students worked. She maneuvered similar stacks of material up and down the hall to her basic writing classes and later to the public relations courses she taught after she helped create the School's public relations sequence.

It was in that public relations program that Sammie Lynn truly became a force, not only in the School, the College of Communications and the University, but across the country as a prominent national leader in the field.

But it was in the classroom where she flowered as an enthusiastic, exuberant teacher. And where she had the most direct influence on students.

"Sammie Lynn's infectious enthusiasm has made a difference in my life," said Ron Harr, vice president for communications at Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Tennessee. "She was instrumental in assisting my career as my unofficial 'agent.' If she taught you, you belonged to her for life. She has made me very proud of my chosen profession. I will miss her greatly."

Karen Buschbaum, a health care public relations specialist in Coral Gables, Fla., said of Sammie Lynn:

She was my singular role model and inspiration for being a successful public relations practitioner. The lessons she taught me went far beyond the classroom and continued with advice and support throughout the 26 years since I graduated. Sammie Lynn Puett will continue to be a major influence in my life."

And Mark McNeely, senior partner, McNeely, Pigot & Fox Public Relations, Nashville, called her "one of my favorite college instructors."
"The tragedy that took her from those who knew her is sad and shocking," McNeely said. "I spoke with her a few weeks before, she had called on behalf of a potential new hire and she sounded energetic and positive as ever.

"In later years, as our careers crossed paths, sometimes under adversarial conditions, she was never anything but friendly, helpful and gracious. In short, she was one of the nicest people I've ever known and the epitome of class. I am proud to have known her, and hopefully, to have learned from her."

Sammie Lynn engendered much the same reaction from the colleagues she worked with as a long-time university administrator.

Phil Scheurer, UT vice president for operations, who knew and worked closely with her for more than 30 years, said she was "an extraordinary woman who served the university and the state of Tennessee in important leadership positions for the past 40 years.

"In all she did, she brought a sense of style, determination and wit to bear on important decisions… For many of us she set a standard as a caregiver that could never be equaled."

Tom Ballard, associate vice president, UT Institute for Public Service, said of her:

"Sammie Lynn was a person of many talents with a vibrant personality and an unbelievable passion for those causes that she most valued. Fortunately for me, one of those long-standing passions was the public service program at UT. I was extremely fortunate to have her as a colleague and friend for several decades, and I will always cherish her strong support."

And Marlene Burns, who first met Sammie Lynn when she and Kelly Leiter conducted writing seminars for the Division of Continuing Education at UT and who became Sammie Lynn's personal secretary in 1995, said:

"Sammie Lynn was my 'boss,' but that is wrong word. She was my very dear friend. I never met a more kind, caring person. Not just for her family, but for everyone she met. Memories of fresh flowers on my desk at all times, birthday luncheons at her home, tokens of appreciation for any small task, and remembrances brought back from the trips she took. Sammie Lynn was beautiful inside and out. She was my mentor, confident, but most of all my 'special friend!" And I will miss her very much."