By Teresa McUsic

Monday June 30, 2008

Anita Perry, RN, MSN, is bringing the experience of 17 years in health care to her current job as first lady of Texas.

After earning a nursing degree from what is now called West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, and her master’s from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (UTHSCSA), Perry worked in a number of nursing positions in surgery, pediatrics, intensive care, administration, and teaching.

In 2000, Perry became first lady of Texas when her husband, Rick, became governor after George W. Bush moved to the White House. In her new role, Perry, 56, has championed a number of healthcare issues, including domestic violence awareness, cancer research, Alzheimer’s and vaccination education, and the state’s nursing shortage.

In 2001, both of her alma maters established endowments in her name: The Anita Thigpen Perry Nursing Excellence Scholarship provides financial support to students admitted to West Texas A&M’s School of Nursing; and the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at UTHSCSA supports the Center for Community-Based Health Promotion in Women and Children.

Perry recently provided insight into her role as first lady in a question-and-answer session:

NurseWeek