Faculty Spotlight – Anne Perry

We are proud to spotlight Anne Perry, Nursing Administrator at Washington County Community College, who has been teaching since January 2025. With decades of experience in nursing, education, and public service, Anne brings deep knowledge, compassion, and a lifelong passion for patient care into the classroom.

 

A Day in Anne’s Role 

Anne’s favorite part of teaching is building meaningful relationships with her students and sharing the knowledge she has gained throughout her career. She finds it especially rewarding to guide students as they grow into confident, capable healthcare professionals.

She believes nursing is a profession filled with extraordinary individuals who provide care to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. That belief shapes how she teaches, focusing not just on clinical skills, but on empathy, communication, and resilience.

 

What Makes Anne’s Program Stand Out

The Nursing program at WCCC is an 18-month accelerated Associate in Applied Science degree designed to prepare students for real-world healthcare settings. Students benefit from small class sizes and personalized instruction, a beautiful, state-of-the-art simulation lab where students can practice clinical skills in a safe, controlled environment, and hands-on clinical experiences in diverse healthcare settings across Maine.

The simulation lab allows students to build confidence before entering real clinical environments, giving them the opportunity to practice procedures, critical thinking, and patient care scenarios.

Clinical rotations require some travel, but they give students invaluable experience working in a variety of settings, helping them adapt and succeed in different environments.

The Nursing program is highly competitive and selective. All students interested in becoming a nurse must begin by applying to the Health Occupations Certificate Program. Students who need to complete prerequisites will do so while enrolled in Health Occupations, while students who have already completed prerequisites must still apply to the program to begin the nursing admissions process.

After completing the required steps outlined in the Nursing Program Information Packet, students may then submit the separate Nursing Program application.

Successful completion of the Health Occupations Certificate Program qualifies graduates to transfer into two- or four-year health degree programs. Transfer programs could lead to careers in nursing, medical assisting, physical therapy, phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, health information management, or radiology.

Graduates of the Nursing program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, a critical step toward becoming a registered nurse.

 

Anne’s Journey in Her Field

Anne’s passion for nursing began at a young age when a nurse made her feel safe and cared for during a hospital visit. That moment shaped her career path.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from what is now the University of Southern Maine in 1970. She went on to work as a family nurse practitioner for 20 years and later spent 16 years serving in the legislature, contributing to healthcare policy.

Anne also taught Health Policy at the graduate level at Husson University, further demonstrating her commitment to education and the future of healthcare.

Outside of Work

Outside the classroom, Anne enjoys hands-on creative and practical activities. She spends her time knitting, weaving, spinning, and gardening, what she calls “playing in the dirt” and even carpentry. She recently built her own deck, reflecting her love for hands-on work, much like the structure of the Nursing program she leads.

Three Words to Describe Anne

Positive, Thoughtful, and Optimistic.

Looking Toward the Future 

Anne is excited about the continued growth and evolution of the Nursing program. She is especially inspired by watching students mature throughout their journey.

Two moments that stand out to her are witnessing the first pinning ceremony at WCCC and celebrating a graduating class where every student passed the NCLEX and became licensed nurses.

She looks forward to continuing to expand opportunities for students and preparing them to meet the demands of the healthcare field with confidence and compassion.

Thank You, Anne! 

Thank you, Anne, for your dedication to your students and your commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses. Your experience, passion, and belief in your students make a lasting impact at WCCC.