Not every student arrives at Southwestern University as a freshman. Suzy Prucka is an example of someone who transferred in, became an outstanding student and SU advocate.

This Midlander, a high school soccer standout, originally signed to play soccer for The University of Texas at El Paso, but came to Georgetown after a year. She participated on SU’s soccer and swim teams, and graduated cum laude with a major in political science.

Her favorite class was on campaign strategy taught by Professor Tim O’Neill and Matthew Dowd, then chief strategist for President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign. That semester, she and her classmates worked on mock campaigns and learned the science and art of successful political campaigns.

Post-graduate work at the University of Maryland School of Law put her close to the action in Washington, D.C. Her summer activities led to a job as legal policy intern on the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign and a law clerk position on one of Senator John Cornyn’s committee staff. After clerking for Maryland’s two appellate courts, Suzy served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office for eight years. She also taught part-time in the political science department of two state universities in Maryland.

Suzy returned to Texas in 2016 where she served as an Assistant District Attorney in Brazos County. In 2017, she moved back to Midland and worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Ector and Midland counties. She entered private practice and now is at the helm of Prucka Law Firm which focuses on criminal appeals at both the State and Federal level across Texas. She is one of a handful of attorneys in Texas who are board certified in both Criminal Law and Criminal Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Suzy has long been a volunteer in her hometown in roles as varied as soccer coach and referee and sustaining advisor for Junior League of Midland. Currently she’s on a few boards including The Texas Lyceum, the City of Midland Parks & Recreation Commission, Midland Teen Court, and the Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas. At Southwestern, she served on the Alumni Council for about six years, including service as Awards Chair.

“That was probably my favorite role, seeing the amazing things our alumni accomplish—from creating the hurricane rating scale to being a well-known orchestra conductor to being a beloved university professor up north. Southwestern shapes each of us differently to realize our individual potentials,” she says.

Suzy credits SU with enabling her stellar legal career to develop. “There I learned to balance the competing demands of two sports teams, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, several other student groups, and challenging classes each semester,” she reveals. “I had to learn to manage my time to be able to meet expectations. I was introduced to alumni and supporters who have provided mentorship and opportunities over the years. I spent my college summers on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Pete Sessions (SU Class of 1978). He opened many doors for me to other opportunities and is still a trusted mentor as I make career decisions.”

Recently, she has learned to balance work with a newborn son, husband, and visits from his three older children.

It didn’t matter that Southwestern University wasn’t Suzy Prucka’s first stop; it mattered that she eventually enrolled at SU and immersed herself in all of the liberal arts institution’s opportunities.

- Written by Iris Bullard Foster ’75