Alumni Profi le
Laura Perry, Gavilan College Trustee, Area 1
An Education Pursued with Passion
By Jan Janes
“
I never thought I would have the
opportunity,” said Perry. At the
height of the Vietnam War, at
the age of 18, she was married and
had a baby. Years later, circumstances
allowed her to pursue her college
dream.
As a young girl, she recalled read-
ing Nancy Drew books and watching
television programs about the law. “I
had always wanted to be an attorney
since I was really young,” she said. But
living in Morgan Hill, married with
two kids, limited what she could do
and where she could go.
Then circumstances showed up
in a surprise job loss, a jolt, and she
jumped at her chance.
“Going to college when you’re
older,” said Perry, “you have finan-
cial goals and look for an economic
return. But, also, there were other
things missing from my life.”
She drove to the Gilroy campus
to see a counselor. “I think, the day I
drove out there was the first time ever
on campus,” she said. She knew she
wanted a business degree and to go to
law school.
She enrolled in 18 units in the Fall
of 1983 and carried a full load every
semester.
“I absolutely fell in love with going
to school.”
When the student is a parent
“My kids were 13 and 11, and they
thought it was great,” Perry said. But
sometimes she had to pull away and
study. “I would sit at Pop Warner and
read a book, or go to a practice and
sit in the car and study.” Friends
recalled she would accompany the
children but not socialize with oth-
ers because she was always reading,
writing a paper, completing note-
books.
“If you want to succeed and get
into a professional school,” she said,
“All your time is invested in school.”
Perry attended Gavilan from
1983 through 1986, an era when
there was no tuition. “It’s not a new
idea,” she said. “And I’m in favor of
it again.”
Graduating from Gavilan in
1986, Perry earned a scholarship
and transferred to San José State
University, where she majored
in marketing in the College of
Business.
“I ripped right through,” said
Perry, graduating in May 1988. “I
was lucky to have a husband who
wanted me to be in school. He
insisted that if I was going to do it,
to do it right.” Perry was accepted
to Santa Clara University School of
Law in 1988 and graduated May
1991.
Gavilan College in the 1980s
In the 1980s, Gavilan College
was just the main Gilroy campus;
the student population was smaller,
the teachers were full time, and
the education system was different.
Perry noted the difference between
the community college environment
and her time at SJSU.
“I loved going to school back
then,” she said. “The teachers,
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SPRING 2020
Marcy Douglas, Don Kline, were
available to talk during their office
hours.” At SJSU she found an
entirely different structure, and
couldn’t find people or support.
Newly-graduated attorney runs
for a seat on the board
Gavilan College Trustee Charlie
Jackson decided not to run for
reelection. “He approached me to
see if I was interested,” she said.
Having won the election in 1992,
Perry has served as a Gavilan
College Trustee since then.
“One of my personal objectives is
to provide access to education,” said
Perry, noting the Guided Pathways
program, Student Success, and sup-
port for tuition-free community col-
lege, as examples of success.
“There has been tremendous
growth since I have been on the
board,” she said. “Our big goal now
is building the San Benito County
campus.”
Gavilan – a family affair
Perry’s daughter grew up to attend
Gavilan College, graduated from the
RN program and now works at a
hospital in Reno. Perry’s grandson
is just getting started, with a career
goal of engineering.
“I know Gav,” Perry said of her
journey. “It is so much a part of me
because I attended as a student.
It was my gateway to where I am
today.”
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