Perry: 3 Years In
Sarah Ruholl/Administration Editor
Issue date: 8/26/09 Section: News
More than two years after starting as president of Eastern on July 1, 2007, Bill Perry discusses the high school teacher and early college experiences that helped inspire his university goal of integrated learning.
In high school, Bill Perry wanted to be a math teacher. His geometry and algebra teacher at his suburban Kansas City high school, Mable Hale, was his inspiration.
Now that Perry is the president of Eastern, he has far exceeded that goal.
"What I would hope is she would be proud of me," he said about his long-deceased teacher. "That would be nice to know."
Perry spent 36 years at Texas A&M University, first as a mathematics professor and later as an administrator, before coming to Eastern in July 2007 to replace the retiring Lou Hencken.
And he still hasn't given up teaching entirely.
"I had the privilege to teach a class this last spring in mathematics," he said. "I really love teaching."
He applies that passion to the way he works with faculty, staff and students through his policies.
"The goal I've stated is that we be the best in the country at integrating the academic and personal development of students," Perry said. "Integrated learning will be the focus of faculty development."
He defined integrated learning as "being purposeful about what we're doing in the classroom, the lab, field trips, study abroad, internships and all the opportunities we provide for students here. It's about being purposeful in knitting together the whole experience."
Perry stressed the importance of these opportunities to the education process as a whole. The dedication to this goal is a favorite aspect of Eastern for him, he said.
"The faculty and staff believe in very strong personal relationships with students and building the whole student, working on the academic and personal development," he said. "We're working to raise the bar for ourselves."
The impact he and the rest of the university staff and faculty have on both students and one another is the most important part of the job.
"The real question for people in higher education is 'Have they made a difference?'" he said. "If you've made a difference, it's gratifying. That's something to be proud of."
During his freshmen year at Park University, Parkville, Mo., Perry met a man walking around campus who left a strong impression on him. It was not until later that he learned the man, who he described as embracing and welcoming, was the college's president.
"I thought maybe someday I could do that in one way or another," he said.
Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7942 or at seruholl2@eiu.edu.
In high school, Bill Perry wanted to be a math teacher. His geometry and algebra teacher at his suburban Kansas City high school, Mable Hale, was his inspiration.
Now that Perry is the president of Eastern, he has far exceeded that goal.
"What I would hope is she would be proud of me," he said about his long-deceased teacher. "That would be nice to know."
Perry spent 36 years at Texas A&M University, first as a mathematics professor and later as an administrator, before coming to Eastern in July 2007 to replace the retiring Lou Hencken.
And he still hasn't given up teaching entirely.
"I had the privilege to teach a class this last spring in mathematics," he said. "I really love teaching."
He applies that passion to the way he works with faculty, staff and students through his policies.
"The goal I've stated is that we be the best in the country at integrating the academic and personal development of students," Perry said. "Integrated learning will be the focus of faculty development."
He defined integrated learning as "being purposeful about what we're doing in the classroom, the lab, field trips, study abroad, internships and all the opportunities we provide for students here. It's about being purposeful in knitting together the whole experience."
Perry stressed the importance of these opportunities to the education process as a whole. The dedication to this goal is a favorite aspect of Eastern for him, he said.
"The faculty and staff believe in very strong personal relationships with students and building the whole student, working on the academic and personal development," he said. "We're working to raise the bar for ourselves."
The impact he and the rest of the university staff and faculty have on both students and one another is the most important part of the job.
"The real question for people in higher education is 'Have they made a difference?'" he said. "If you've made a difference, it's gratifying. That's something to be proud of."
During his freshmen year at Park University, Parkville, Mo., Perry met a man walking around campus who left a strong impression on him. It was not until later that he learned the man, who he described as embracing and welcoming, was the college's president.
"I thought maybe someday I could do that in one way or another," he said.
Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7942 or at seruholl2@eiu.edu.
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