Dr. Simon Perry earned an A.B. in Political Science and History from Berea College in 1954, an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1955, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Michigan State University in 1961. He joined the faculty at Marshall University as an Associate Professor in the fall of 1962 and retired from active duty in the spring of 2010 as Professor Emeritus, making his 48-year tenure as a faculty member the longest in the history of the institution. Among numerous noteworthy honors, Dr. Perry was the recipient of the Marshall University Distinguished Faculty Award, two separate Governors presented him with the prestigious Distinguished West Virginian Award, and in 2010, he won the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Teaching Award. In order to honor his tremendous impact on the lives of generations of Marshall students, the Drinko Academy and the College of Liberal Arts joined together to establish the Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy in 2011. That year, Dr. Perry also delivered the inaugural lecture of the Marshall University Robert C. Byrd Forum on Civic Responsibility. His address, entitled “The Founding Fathers and Religion,” was later extended into a highly acclaimed article. In the fall of 2013, Dr. Perry published his most recent book, entitled Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson: By Their Deeds You Shall Know Them. Dr. Simon Perry passed away on January 27, 2023.
Dr. Simon D. Perry
January 16, 1931-January 27, 2023
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Simon Perry joined the faculty at Marshall University in 1962. When he retired in 2010, he was the longest-serving faculty member in the history of Marshall University, beloved by generations of students and colleagues. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Political Science and served as its Chair for almost two decades. Among the many honors he earned during his long and distinguished career, he was named the first John Deaver Drinko Distinguished Fellow in 1994.
The Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy was launched in 2011 to ensure that his significant legacy continues. The Center honors his impact as the longest-serving faculty member in the history of Marshall University and as a much-beloved professor whose profound teachings changed thousands of lives. The Center seeks to inspire students to focus on how the U.S. Constitution and its application have been shaped by individuals in American history, as well as by various social, economic, and cultural forces. It approaches this mission academically and through various civic outreach efforts.
The Simon Perry Center comprises an interdisciplinary academic program with a minor in Constitutional Democracy that includes courses in political science, history, philosophy, English, and sociology. The Center offers a university-wide pre-law program. It also sponsors the Amicus Curiae Lecture Series on Constitutional Democracy, which brings noted scholars from throughout the country to campus to lecture on issues central to the Constitution, law, history, politics, and governance.
Simon Perry believed that vigorous civic education is vital to a healthy democracy. His courses and mission continue through the work of the center established to honor him, which every day pursues his goals of bettering our world through education and outreach.