Oakland, CA - A registered nurse for 21 years and the former interim director of a local nursing home, Rita Stuckey witnessed serious physical and sexual abuse of seniors by paid staff, and vowed to do something about it. Last month, she graduated from Mills with her doctorate in educational leadership, having completed a dissertation on institutional elder abuse, and she created the Care Advocate Program to curtail the incidence of abuse.

Currently used at Allen Temple Baptist Church (Oakland), Beth Eden Baptist Church (Oakland) and Progressive Baptist Church (Berkeley), Stuckey’s program trains church members to identify elder abuse, intervene with authorities and advocate for elders and their families to prevent further mistreatment.

Having grown up in Oakland and graduated from Skyline High School, Stuckey was determined to make a difference in her East Bay community and to contribute to making Oakland a model city for change.

“The faculty at Mills encouraged me to speak out against social injustice, to understand that it’s my ethical duty to effect change,” said Stuckey. “If anyone can become a leader, a Mills woman can. Professors truly rally around your work; they are academic cheerleaders who feel like my family.”

Currently working as Director of Utilization/Care Management at Kindred Hospital (San Leandro), Stuckey chose to attend Mills to pursue her doctoral degree because she “wanted to attend an historic college devoted to women’s leadership.” She said, “Mills’ great reputation adds credibility to my career – it helps me speak out and gives me a stamp of approval.”

Stuckey earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from California State University at Los Angeles, a master’s in public administration from California State University at Hayward, and a master’s degree in education from Mills.  She is also certified as a public health nurse and a mental health specialist. 

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills is also recognized as one of the country’s 10 most diverse colleges. Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

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