Dr. Stuckey Honored

By Dr. Janet Roehl

Wherever Dr. Francine Stuckey goes, a child, teenager, or adult will call out “Hi, remember me? I went to CDC.”

Dr. Stuckey, the most senior faculty member at ENMU, retired in June 2012 after 38 years of outstanding service. She was a professor of Family and Consumer Sciences and served as the director of the Child Development Center (CDC) at ENMU. Over 1,000 children attended the CDC during her tenure.

L to R: Dr. Jamie Laurenz, vice president of Academic Affairs with Dr. Francine Stuckey holding the proclamation presented to her by the N.M. State Senate.

“I think that the many years that I worked at the center provided me with many unique experiences,” Dr. Stuckey recalls. “For example, I remember the first time a former CDC ‘child’ returned as a college student to work at the center; that experience occurred a number of times. I’ve also had a number of former CDC children return as parents with their own children. It’s a wonderful compliment to the program when people remember the experience they had and wants that for their child. I’ve had the same thing happen in my college courses with children of my former students majoring in early childhood education or family and consumer sciences.”

Dr. Stuckey began her career at ENMU in 1974 as an instructor of home economics, gaining tenure in 1981. She received her Master of Science in Home Economics with Child Development specialization from Kansas State University in 1973 and earned her doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University several years later.

Recently she was granted emerita status and was recognized by the New Mexico Senate for her lifelong commitment to the education of children.

“I retired because I wanted a more flexible schedule in order to do some other things— not because I wasn’t enjoying teaching. I plan to stay involved in the areas of child development and early education, but more in the role of a volunteer.”