Air Force officer is Ashford's Alum of the Month

Being a star athlete and enlistee in the U.S. Air Force wasn’t enough for Vanessa Valente Perryman.

She wasn’t finished fulfilling her goals until she completed her college program and earned her degree in 2015 from Ashford University. Her determination has paid off in several ways, allowing her to pursue new goals and earning the Ashford University Alum of the Month award.

With the cost of tuition too high, Perryman became the first person in her family to enlist, as she was determined not to burden her family with the financial commitment of college and to be an inspiration to her younger brother.

While traveling around the world to Spain, South Korea, Italy, Greece, France, Belgium and Turkey on the U.S. Air Force Europe Women’s Basketball team and the Korean Peninsula Women’s Football team, Perryman met and married her husband.

With so many accomplishments and so much life still ahead of her, Perryman turned her focus to education and chose Ashford because she said it fit her needs, with flexibility, unique course setup, and affordability. After being named to the Dean’s List 10 times and becoming a member of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society and Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, she earned as associate’s degree, followed by her bachelor of arts in organizational management.

That led to her dream of becoming a commissioned officer in the Air Force. She has worked hard and become an outstanding example to all, earning her the Alum of the Month award.