Beverly Perdue Collection: Educator in Chief

Educator in Chief 

North Carolina's first female Governor, Beverly Perdue, has demonstrated a commitment to education throughout her life. Born in the coal mining community of Grundy, Virginia, her mother and coal mining father stressed the importance of education. Her parents' expectations and her 7th-grade teacher's assurances that "[she] could be more than she thought..." inspired Perdue to begin a career in teaching. Her years in the classroom and extensive graduate education, including a Ph.D. in education administration, served as a launching pad for a career in public service. Following her 1986 election to North Carolina's House of Representatives, she rose to serve in the state Senate where she carefully balanced raising her sons with the challenges of political life. In 2008, Perdue was elected as North Carolina's first and only female Governor, after having served two successive terms as North Carolina's only female Lieutenant Governor. Her experience as a student, parent, and teacher inspired her to prioritize North Carolina's education system. During her time in office, she passed legislation requiring the creation of a state-wide Pre-Kindergarten program. Post-governorship, Perdue founded digiLEARN, a non-profit organization determined to advance digital learning for all students. This exhibit draws upon items Perdue donated to Meredith College in the hope of inspiring future leaders in education.