In Memoriam: Suanne Davis Roueche, 1942-2017

Suanne Roueche, who served for than 20 years as director of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development and was senior lecturer emerita in the department of educational administration at the University of Texas, died on December 24. She was 75 years old.

A native of Dallas, Dr. Roueche earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at what is now the University of North Texas in Denton. She held a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas. She began her academic career teaching for nine years at El Centro College in Dallas, Texas.

Throughout her long career, Dr. Roueche was a strong advocate for community colleges. She lectured at more than 450 colleges, universities, and academic conferences on community college education. In 1997, the American Association of Community Colleges named Dr. Roueche the recipient of the Annual Leadership Award, the association’s highest honor. She and her husband John established endowed scholarship funds at Mitchell Community College in North Carolina and Austin Community College in Texas.

Dr. Roueche was the author or co-author of 19 books including Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The At-Risk Student in the Open Door College (Community College Press, 1994).