BETSY ANN PLANK
Betsy Plank, known to many as the First Lady of Public Relations, was a pioneer in the profession, championed PR education, and attained leadership positions yet to be reached by women.
A 1944 graduate of the University of Alabama, Betsy attained national and international stature during a distinguished career in corporate and agency public relations that included positions on the board of United Way, Girl Scouts of Chicago, and Girl Scouts of the USA. Additionally, Betsy earned countless industry accolades, serving as executive vice president of Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. (now Edelman), before becoming director of public relations planning at AT&T and later director of external affairs at Illinois Bell.
In addition to her many personal accomplishments, Plank devoted much of her time to advancing public relations education, consistently and passionately advocating for the profession’s students. Her legacy is most visible in the countless public relations professionals, educators, and students who credit her for taking the time to mentor them throughout her career. Her focus on others led her to become the most individually recognized woman in the industry, a testament to the value of selflessness in professionalism.
In 2005, the Trustees of the University of Alabama established The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. The Center’s mission is to develop research, scholarships, and forums that advance the ethical practice of public relations.
Why is our logo a compass?
Our logo is a compass in part of Betsy Plank’s love of boating and being on the water. But more importantly, “compass” means “together, a step,” a phrase that epitomizes Betsy’s servant leadership and belief that much can be accomplished if we work together. She also had a strong moral compass, a True North, consisting of personal values for which she would never compromise, and an appreciation for the public relations profession’s distinct role as the conscience of the enterprise.
Today, the compass represents much that The Plank Center stands for:
➤ Through our focus on mentorship, we seek to provide guidance and direction to empower and advance the next generation of emerging leaders in the profession.
➤ Our programming helps these emerging leaders develop the independence and freedom to chart their path to leadership.
➤ We also seek to foster meaningful connections with and for these emerging leaders, which reflects the four points of the compass representing the interconnectedness of all directions.