Elise Sautter may not be a widely recognized name around the New Mexico State University campus, but ask for “Pookie,” and you’ll find your gal.
Pookie Sautter got her unique nickname from her father who, when she was still a baby, would poke her stomach and say, “Pook, pook, pook,” prompting her to giggle. After that, the name Pookie just stuck.
Lucky NMSU. Sautter came to Las Cruces and brought her skills, her husband and her nickname with her.
Sautter earned her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from Florida State University. While at FSU, she met her husband Michael in an oyster bar. Michael, wh


