“Being inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows is one of the profession’s highest individual honors,” said Mike Herman, APR, Fellow PRSA, and 2009 chair of the College of Fellows. “It is with great pride that we recognize the lifetime career work and leadership of outstanding professionals who have significantly advanced our profession.”

Deveney was admitted into the College of Fellows after meeting the following requirements:

• Having practiced or taught public relations for 20 or more years

• Demonstrated superior capability as a practitioner or educator

• Exhibited personal and professional qualities that serve as a role model and advanced the state of the profession

“It is such an honor to be inducted into the 2009 Class of Fellows,” Deveney commented, “I stand beside some of the most respected individuals in the field of whom I am privileged to share a class.”

This distinction has only been bestowed upon one other Louisiana PR practitioner.

The new honorees were inducted during a ceremony at PRSA’s 2009 International Conference in San Diego, Calif., late last year.

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA):

The Public Relations Society of America, based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100 Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections and Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has nearly 300 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.