Welcoming a New Era: UWG Cuts Ribbon on Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry Building Share this page
What was once known as the University of West Georgia’s Technology-enhanced Learning Center (TLC), a groundbreaking beacon of technological advancement when it first opened its doors in 2001, now enters an exciting new chapter as the Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry Building.
UWG students, faculty, staff and community members gathered last week to celebrate more than a new name on a building; it was a renewed vision for discovery, innovation and hands-on learning. The ceremony highlighted a place where future researchers, innovators and problem-solvers will pursue discoveries that could advance medicine, unlock new technologies and deepen our understanding of the world and universe around us.
It also honored Perry, an exceptional educator and an advocate for students whose influence continues to be felt across campus and beyond.
“A university is filled with buildings,” Dr. Michael Johnson, UWG president, observed at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Most of them are meaningful, but they’re just places where classes are held and offices are located. They don’t become a home until students move in and discover their passions. That’s where careers begin, ideas become innovations and lives are transformed. Today, we dedicate a building that will serve generations to come while honoring a person whose legacy reflects the very best in what higher education can be.”
The naming honors the late Perry, a mathematics professor who taught at UWG for 21 years and was affectionately known by students as “Earl the Pearl” for his tireless dedication to their success. His legacy has been on full display recently with the naming of the Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry College of Computing, Mathematics and Sciences and the installation of a campus sculpture depicting an oyster and a reflective pearl near the newly named building.
“Throughout history, many of the people who have changed the world have pointed to a teacher who refused to write them off,” said donor and alumnus Rusty West ’88 who served as the catalyst for the Perry revival. “When I arrived at then-West Georgia College, I was drifting. Most of my professors saw that and moved on to stronger students. Earl did not. He saw potential where others would not look, and he also made me see it in myself.”
Dr. Nate Bickford, dean of Perry College, referenced an adage that acknowledges that success, knowledge or discoveries are possible because others laid the foundation first.
“Standing on the shoulders of giants like Dr. Perry creates an opportunity for us to see something in the distance and work towards that,” he told the crowd. “As we celebrate them and are grateful for the foundation they built, our jobs are to keep our eyes on the horizon. Our responsibility is to build that future – new ideas, new dreams and new opportunities.”
Since joining UWG as president in August 2025, Johnson has advocated for a “no-excuses” commitment to student success. In his remarks prior to the ribbon-cutting, he referenced Perry’s generosity, encouragement and steadfast belief that education can change lives.
“Every day that students are inside these classrooms, laboratories and collective learning spaces, they are prepared to solve complex problems, conduct groundbreaking research and contribute to a rapidly changing world,” he said. “They are pursuing careers that will help shape our future. Dr. Perry believed in a future built on curiosity, strengthened by knowledge and made possible by opportunity. Moments like this also remind us that one act of mentorship can create a ripple effect. The most enduring legacies we can leave is found in the lives we touch, the students we encourage and the opportunities we create for others.”
West, who earned an honorary doctorate from UWG in 2025, is just one living proof of Perry’s legacy. West recalled a man who pushed students academically, demanded clear thinking and real work, and offered true mentorship.
Perry was known for pushing his students to excel, but West shared that what made him truly special was the support he offered along the way. A dedicated mentor, he challenged others to reach beyond their limits while helping them discover strengths they hadn’t yet seen in themselves.
He closed the event by offering a “pearl” of wisdom to faculty in attendance.
“Try to look past the surface problems of the underdogs in your classroom and work towards setting them on the right path,” West concluded. “One of your predecessors did exactly that for me, and maybe one day one of those students you weren’t sure about might be standing where I am and honoring you by dedicating a building in your name. Thank you all. And thank you, Earl, for giving so much of yourself and expecting nothing in return.”
photography by Becca Campbell and Hailey Wilkinson