NASA Glenn’s Chief Counsel uses public relations skills learned at Scripps College to make legal issues understandable and approachable

When you hear Callista Puchmeyer’s (B.S.J, ‘04) job title, you don’t think that she was a public relations journalism major in college. But, as NASA Glenn Research Center Chief Counsel, Puchmeyer utilizes her journalism degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University all the time. 

“My public relations background is very important,” said Puchmeyer. “We were taught how to communicate effectively. Being able to communicate effectively, when trying to interpret legal speak to others, has helped me build relationships and helped me to do my job. I’ve learned that cutting through the jargon helps people fear lawyers less and build trust.”

Puchmeyer grew up in a suburb of Cleveland and came to Ohio University to pursue her dream of working for a fashion magazine in New York City.

“I was really set on being a journalism major and I researched the best journalism schools in the country,” said Puchmeyer. “The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism was number five in the country at the time. So, I applied and getting in was a huge honor.”

Puchmeyer started as a newspaper major and worked for The Post. 

“What I realized about that was I did not like very fast deadlines,” Puchmeyer said with a laugh. “I then changed to a magazine journalism major. But, after doing a magazine internship, I realized that was too slow. Around that time, I started working in the university’s student affairs office and got to do some public relations work there. I really liked helping people who were in crisis and helping them get out of crisis. People want to call that PR spin, but I think it’s really finding the right message to help people in crisis.”

That’s when Puchmeyer became a public relations major. She also specialized in political science and joined a prelaw fraternity.

“I got interested in the law,” said Puchmeyer. “I was attracted to the helping people aspect of PR and saw that same thing available in law school.”

After graduation, Puchmeyer went to Cleveland State University for law school planning to work for the Legal Aid Society. “When I started law school, I thought I wanted to work for a Legal Aid Society, which provides free legal help to those who need it with a mission of assisting people in overcoming unfairness and injustice to reduce poverty and increase opportunity.” But that isn’t where Puchmeyer ended up.

“Life happened. By the time I graduated law school, I had my first daughter, and I had to find a law job that worked for my family,” said Puchmeyer. “I did a summer associateship working for a law firm, doing law clerk work. I focused on mergers and acquisitions, and they offered me a job.”

While Puchmeyer was thankful for the opportunity and appreciated how it worked with her growing family, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was a way she could use her public relations and law degrees to advocate for an organization.

“I wanted to be part of an organization and connected to their mission and have a seat of at the table and be an advisor,” said Puchmeyer. “That’s when I saw the position at NASA in Cleveland. While science and math have never been my strengths, I knew NASA and their mission and values and was drawn to work for them.”

Puchmeyer jumped into the role and worked her way up at NASA Glenn from junior attorney to chief counsel. It’s a journey Puchmeyer never anticipated, but is perfect for her background, experience, and goals.

“Ohio University provided me, without a doubt, a wonderful education in reading and writing skills, and I know I have a very good base in those two things,” said Puchmeyer. “The public relations background helps in my current position because as chief counsel, I’m faced with complicated legal issues. Some of our legal issues make it to the media, and I’m always trying to think about the audience and what is the best way to write something so that it’s understandable, truthful, and transparent.”

This interview reflects Puchmeyer’s personal experience and opinion and should not be considered an official endorsement by NASA or the U.S. Government.