25 years of legacy and impact: James W. Stuckert Career Center marks milestone anniversary

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2025) — For more than two decades, the James W. Stuckert Career Center has stood at the heart of the University of Kentucky’s campus — a welcoming space where students discover their passions, prepare for their futures and carry forward the legacy of one of UK’s most dedicated alumni.

This fall, the university marks the center’s 25th anniversary, celebrating both its impact on student success and the generosity of the alumnus who made it possible. 

“Jim Stuckert, in many ways, is UK,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We hope that all of our students leave here prepared for a life of meaning and purpose. Jim seized every opportunity one could imagine. He was a huge success in business, a wonderful husband and father, and an enormously generous donor — not only in resources, but in time and ideas.”

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, James Wadhams Stuckert graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1955 before enrolling at UK. His road to Lexington was anything but simple. After losing his mother at a young age and spending much of his childhood in foster care, he hitchhiked to campus and spent his first two weeks wearing a roommate’s clothes until his own belongings arrived. It was during these years that UK became, in his words, the place that finally felt like “home.”

Stuckert earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering in 1960 and an MBA from the Gatton College of Business and Economics in 1961. As a student, he immersed himself in campus life, serving as president of Kappa Sigma fraternity, leading the Engineering Student Council and managing the “Kentucky Engineer” magazine. He was also active in Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Tau Sigma.

Professionally, Stuckert began his career at Cummins Engine Co. before joining W.L. Lyons & Co. in Louisville in 1962. By 1968, he had become a partner of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons & Co., where he later served as chairman and CEO beginning in 1995.

Even as his professional accomplishments grew, Stuckert never forgot the institution that shaped him. He dedicated decades of service to UK, including as national president of the UK Alumni Association in 1976, for which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1980. He won the Distinguished Service Award not just because he was national president, but because of his overall service to the UK Alumni Association. He chaired the UK Development Council, helped lead the campaign for the William T. Young Library, and from 2009 to ’15 served on the UK Board of Trustees, where he was vice chair and chair of the finance committee. In 2010-11, he chaired the presidential search committee that brought Capilouto to campus.

UK has celebrated Stuckert’s devotion in many ways — he was awarded an honorary degree in 2004, and has been inducted into the UK Alumni Association’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni, the Pigman College of Engineering’s Hall of Distinction, and the Gatton College’s Halls of Fame. But perhaps the most enduring tribute came in 2000, when the university named its career center in his honor. Through funds such as the James & Diane Stuckert BS/MBA Program Endowment, the Program Enhancement Fund for the Career Center, and scholarships supporting undergraduates, the Stuckerts ensured that generations of students would have access to resources, guidance and opportunities.

Putting students first

From its opening, the Stuckert Career Center has been more than a building. It has been a hub where students can explore majors, gain career skills and connect with employers.

“The Stuckert Career Center helps our students succeed in a variety of ways,” said Nicole Keenan, interim director of the center. “From exploratory students still deciding on a path, to seniors preparing for their first jobs, we provide tools, resources and encouragement to help them make purposeful decisions. Our approach is simple — students come first.”

That philosophy, leaders said, extends across the Office for Student Success.

“The work of the Stuckert Career Center reflects our broader commitment in the Office for Student Success,” said Kirsten Turner, UK vice president for Student Success. “Our goal is to create an environment where every student feels supported — from their first days on campus through graduation and beyond.

For many, that support begins with something as basic as having a safe, supportive place to ask questions. 

“The Stuckert Career Center is very welcoming and open,” said junior TaMyah Jordan. “When you don’t know where you’re going, you can just walk in and someone will guide you.”

Senior Natalie Gross agrees.

“The Stuckert Career Center has really helped me elevate my confidence when applying to internships,” Gross said. “Everyone I’ve talked to has been helpful and uplifting. I always leave with more clarity.”

Preparing Kentucky’s workforce

For UK, the Stuckert Career Center plays an essential role in preparing students not only for their first jobs, but for lasting success beyond graduation.

“Career centers are essential at universities, especially in this day and time,” Capilouto said. “With the rapid acceleration of technology, including AI, the job market is constantly changing. The career center helps our students gain the skills and confidence to put their best foot forward — which is critical for Kentucky’s workforce.”

Keenan says that responsibility drives her team daily. “We’re not just thinking about the past 25 years — we’re looking ahead to the next 25,” she said. “That means staying up to date on workforce trends, building strong partnerships with employers, and ensuring our students are career ready in an ever-changing world.”

“The future of the Stuckert Career Center is about preparing Wildcats to thrive in jobs that don’t even exist yet,” said Eric N. Monday, executive vice president for finance and administration. “Our students will face a rapidly changing economy, and this center ensures they leave UK with the skills, adaptability and confidence to lead.”

Remembering Jim Stuckert

Though he died in August, Stuckert’s presence is still deeply felt across campus. For those who knew him, memories abound of his humility, warmth and personal investment in students.

“Life is made up of many kindnesses,” Capilouto reflected. “Jim and Diane Stuckert, now a blessed memory, leave me with many — from leading the committee that brought me to UK, to simple gestures of thoughtfulness, like knocking on the door of Maxwell Place just to make sure my wife and I were doing okay when we were new to campus.”

Those who worked closely with him remember the same qualities. Keenan echoes that sentiment. 

“He wasn’t just a name on a building,” she said. “He would come to the center often, meet with staff, ask questions and encourage our work. He was humble and personable, and he truly cared about students.”

Stuckert’s devotion to UK was also a family affair. He and his wife Diane, a 1961 UK graduate, Chi Omega sorority member, Homecoming Queen and founding member of Women & Philanthropy, raised three children — Scott, Susan and Steve — all UK graduates. Their granddaughter, Catherine Ward, is also a UK graduate who served as president of Chi Omega, while her husband, Tyler Ward, chaired DanceBlue in 2019. After Diane’s death in 2020, Jim later married Carolyn Stuckert, who survives him.

As the university marks this milestone, the celebration is not only about bricks and mortar, but about the enduring impact of a man who believed deeply in the potential of every student.

“It’s so important to keep striving and keep his legacy alive,” Keenan said. “That’s what the Stuckert Career Center is about — helping students become their very best and find meaning and purpose in their lives.”

Today, the Stuckert Career Center continues to serve as UK’s cornerstone for career development, offering one-on-one advising, career fairs, internship and job search support, résumé and interview preparation and resources for alumni navigating career transitions. As part of the Office for Student Success — a unit wholly dedicated to putting students first — the center equips students to explore opportunities, gain experience and step confidently into their futures. In that work, the center continues the legacy Jim Stuckert left behind: investing in students and ensuring every Wildcat has the support to succeed.

To learn more about the services offered or to explore how you can connect with students as an employer or mentor, visit www.uky.edu/careercenter.