Dean Andrew G. Campbell praised Perry, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for Africana Studies, for her support of graduate students. She was lauded in her nominations for her guidance and mentorship from before students arrived at Brown through the job market and early years of teaching. 

Another theme that echoed through her nominations is her encouragement for students to apply – and often win – prestigious fellowships and grants. PhD student, Shamara Wyllie Alhassan, shares, “For her, to be a professor does not simply mean teaching course material, it means getting to know students and blazing a trail for the next generation of scholars in the academy.”

In total, 16 doctoral students, alumni, and faculty nominated Perry for this award. Any Brown faculty member who has served as graduate advisor, trainer, or dissertation chair, unofficial or official mentor is eligible for nomination.