First Female Vice President Sammie Lynn Puett

1989

First Female Vice President Sammie Lynn Puett

1989

First Female Vice President Sammie Lynn Puett

Alumna Sammie Lynn Puett became the first woman to hold a UT vice presidency when she was promoted to vice president for public service, continuing education, and university relations in 1989. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UT and began work at the university in 1960 as a specialist with the Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Puett later became an associate professor in the School of Journalism, an executive assistant to Chancellor Jack Reese, commissioner of the Department of General Services, then commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services under Governor Lamar Alexander, and then associate vice president for university relations at UT.