A Clayton State Alumna’s Commitment to Nursing and Lifelong Learning

(January 28, 2026) - Clayton State University alumna Eunice Perry’s career in nursing reflects the lasting impact of mentorship, education, and lifelong learning. Her journey, from early inspiration and academic persistence to leadership, advanced practice, and community-focused mental health advocacy, illustrates how a Clayton State education prepares nurses not only for clinical excellence but for meaningful service and leadership beyond the bedside. 

Eunice Perry’s path into nursing began long before she ever stepped into a classroom. From the age of five, she knew she wanted to become a nurse. As a child, she was inspired by images of nurses she saw on television from the show “Julia” that featured the black lead actress dressed in a crisp white uniform and nurse’s cap. For Perry, that image left a lasting impression. She also had a real-life role model in the family, her grandmother. According to Perry, she was one of the first Black nurses at the University of Alabama Hospital. Her grandmother embodied professionalism, service, and pride.

Although her mother initially encouraged her to pursue a career in science rather than nursing, Perry’s curiosity and versatility led her to explore computer programming early on. While she excelled in analytical thinking, she eventually realized that nursing was her true calling. “Sometimes in life,” Perry reflected, “you go one way and come back to where you were supposed to start in the first place.” 

She began her nursing education at DeKalb Community College, earning her associate degree in nursing. Nursing school challenged her, particularly the critical-thinking style required for nursing exams, where multiple answers may be correct, but only one is the best choice based on patient assessment. With guidance from dedicated faculty, she learned to adapt her analytical mindset to the holistic thinking required in nursing practice. 

When a national push encouraged associate-degree nurses to earn bachelor’s degrees, Perry took the next step in her academic journey at Clayton State University through the RN-to-BSN program. The Campaign for Action aimed "to increase the proportion of nurses with baccalaureate degrees to 80 percent by 2020 and to double the number of nurses with a doctorate. Here, she distinguished herself as an outstanding student and quickly became deeply involved in the School of Nursing. During her studies, she worked closely with faculty members, including then Dean Dr. Eichenberg and professors such as Dr. Victoria Foster, who would later become key mentors. 

Clayton State proved to be a defining chapter in Perry’s career. One standout moment at CSU was when she was nominated as the graduating class's "Outstanding RN-BSN Student" by the dean and the School of Nursing. She remained actively engaged on committees, including academic and textbook committees, and embraced the university’s culture of mentorship. “Clayton State doesn’t just educate you,” she said. “They guide you. They help you understand how to shape your academic and professional path.” 

She was committed to the belief that leadership and education go hand in hand. “You can't be a leader if you don't know how to educate, and you can't be an educator if you don't know how to lead,” she said. This belief led her to earn dual master’s degrees in nursing education and nursing leadership at Clayton State.  
 
Recognizing the growing importance of understanding the business side of healthcare, she also earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration. There she learned about the business of healthcare from mentors Dr. Thomas Mcllwain and Dr. Marcy Laurer. These combined experiences prepared her for leadership roles and gave her a broader view of healthcare systems beyond bedside care. 

Perry completed a doctoral degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in December 2025. The DNP program emphasizes quality improvement, identifying gaps in healthcare delivery, and implementing solutions to improve patient outcomes.    

For her doctoral project, Perry focused on mental health equity and literacy in Clayton County, a community she had called home for over 20 years. Her interest in mental health was deeply personal and professional, shaped in part by her experience with long COVID and its cognitive effects. “The brain is incredibly sensitive,” she noted. “If mental health isn’t addressed, the physical body can’t truly heal.” 

Through her project, Perry worked with community clinics to assess mental health needs, educate patients, and connect them with available resources. She found that many individuals were not resistant to seeking help; they did not know where to go. Access, awareness, and stigma emerged as the most significant barriers. One in five people, she emphasized, experiences a mental illness, yet mental health screenings are often overlooked in routine healthcare visits.  
 

Her work highlighted the importance of integrating mental health assessments into every patient encounter and improving visibility of local resources. Perry created educational materials and resource guides for patients. Her project achieved an exceptionally high participation rate. Perry said Clayton State faculty members served as clinical mentors, reviewing her work, supporting her project, and collaborating as co-authors on future publications. Their involvement exemplified the lasting relationships Perry built during her time at CSU. 

Since retiring, Perry has embraced education as a form of healing and growth. She sees learning as a lifelong pursuit, deeply rooted in her family's history of educators. Even now, she remains committed to advancing nursing through scholarship, advocacy, and mentorship. 

In 2015 she traveled to Washington, D.C., with Clayton State nursing leadership to advocate for nurse practitioner prescription authority in Georgia which ultimately was passed the following year in 2016. This experience reinforced her belief in the power of political engagement. 

Looking ahead, Perry plans to teach future nurses, publish her work, and remain active in healthcare policy and community initiatives.

“Nursing is a lifelong field,” Perry said. “Healthcare is always changing, and that’s why nurses never stop learning.” 

Through her dedication to education, leadership, and mental health advocacy, Eunice Perry exemplifies what it means to be a Clayton State University Laker, preparing students not only for careers but for meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.