University of Florida News
Itís a long, arduous journey from the University of Florida campus and Norman Hall (home of UFís College of Education) to the North Carolina Executive Mansion, the governorís official residence in Raleigh.
Especially for a woman. But Beverly (call me ěBevî) Perdue, holder of two UF education degrees, traveled that road over the past three-plus decades before her election in 2008 as the Tar Heel stateís first woman governor.
Perdue is still a newsmaker at her Florida alma mater, with UF President Bernie Machen announcing Tuesday that Perdue will receive the universityís 2010-11 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
ěBev Perdueís achievements as a long-time public servant, a champion of education and now as governor of North Carolina certainly make her one of our most illustrious and accomplished graduates,î said Catherine Emihovich, dean of UFís College of Education.
Beverly Eaves Perdue is a ědouble EduGatorî with two education degrees from UF. She earned a masterís degree in community college administration in 1974 and a doctorate in educational administration two years later. She also has a bachelorís degree in history from the University of Kentucky.
Perdue, a genuine coal minerís daughter from Southwest Virginia, says she figured she was heading for a career in academics while pursuing her doctorate. But fate led her down a different path.
Before attending UF, Perdue taught ninth grade at a Jacksonville middle school and 12th grade at Ocala Vanguard High School in central Florida.
After completing her UF studies, she and her family moved to New Bern, N.C., where she worked in health care before becoming the first woman from her district elected to the state House of Representatives.
ěThe insiders all told me that a woman could never win in my eastern North Carolina district,î Perdue said. ěTimes have changed dramatically, but Iíve never given up the drive to break down those barriers (that women have faced).
ěI have never been afraid of a challenge.î
During her 14 years in the North Carolina Legislature and eight more years as lieutenant governor, Perdue focused on creating 21st century jobs and improving public health, but she also was able to champion her pet cause: education.
She then campaigned for governor on a platform of health care and education. Taking office during the worst economic downturn since the 1930s, Gov. Perdue understandably has made North Carolinaís economy and jobs creation her first priorities. Drawing on her experience as a former teacher and her studies at UF, she also is working to transform North Carolina classrooms through increased technology and a statewide online school initiative.
The governor this summer announced North Carolinaís selection as one of the winners of a federal Race to the Top grant, worth about $400 million, to advance efforts in statewide education reform.
She calls her education agenda ěCareer and College: Ready, Set, Go!î which includes preparing every student to graduate from high school ready for a career, college or technical training.
Perdue says she hopes to share the goals of ěReady, Set, Goî with the Southern Regional Education Board, for which she was recently elected chair. The 80-member board has 16 member states, including North Carolina, Florida and Virginia ó all places that she has called home.
In nominating Perdue for the University of Florida honor, William C. Harrison, chairman of North Carolinaís state board of education, wrote that university ěshould be proud that one of your education graduates has accomplished so much at a time when investment in education is critical.î