North Carolina Senator Linda Garrou (D-Forsyth) understands how important education is to the economic health of the Tar Heel state. She also knows from experience the impact an advanced degree can have on an individual's life. Garrou came to North Carolina 42 years ago to pursue a Master's of Teaching degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“You can draw a straight line from my experience as a graduate student at Carolina to my current work as a state Senator,” says Garrou.
When Garrou came to North Carolina from Columbus, Georgia, the state's dominant industries were textiles, manufacturing and tobacco. Today, the state is a global leader in the healthcare and high-tech industries. The tobacco fields have become office parks. The textile mills are home to high-tech start ups. The manufacturing plants are medical research facilities.
“Today, a graduate degree is the equivalent of a high school education 42 years ago,” Garrou says. “Education is the key to a thriving economy.”
Garrou serves as the Chair of the state's Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and as a member of the Education/Higher Education and Commerce Committees. Her work on the committees provides her with a unique perspective on the fiscal health of the state and importance of its educational institutions. Garrou understands that education is a long-term investment, which may not yield economic fruit until many years later.
“We must train the young people of today for the jobs of tomorrow,” Garrou says. “The state's economic growth and stability are dependent upon it.”