To reach Dr. Perry for a media appearance or interview, please contact:

perry@sbc.edu

Summary of expertise:

Perry has researched, written or presented on the following and can speak knowledgeably about these topics: 

• The U.S. Supreme Court and its justices, constitutional law
• John F. Kennedy and the Kennedy family, including U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rose Kennedy
• The retirements and appointments of Supreme Court members, Catholics, women and minorities on the Supreme Court
• U.S. first ladies, especially Jacqueline Kennedy, Dolley Madison and Hillary Clinton
• Civil rights and liberties, especially religion and affirmative action
• The presidency, including presidential elections
• Civic engagement
• U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Books:

• "'The Supremes': An Introduction to the Supreme Court Justices" (2d ed., 2009)
• "The Michigan Affirmative Action Cases" (2007)
• "Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier" (2004)
• "Freedom and the Court: Civil Rights and Liberties in the United States," with Henry J. Abraham (2003)
• "The Priestly Tribe: The Supreme Court's Image in the American Mind" (1999)
• "A 'Representative' Supreme Court? The Impact of Race, Religion, and Gender on Appointments" (1991)

Current or recent research:

• Perry is writing a political biography of Rose Kennedy based on the 250 boxes of her archives recently released at the John F. Kennedy Library.
• Perry is researching a book, "Catholics and the Supreme Court."

Current or recent awards, activities or memberships:

• Senior fellow at the University of Louisville's McConnell Center, 2006-07 academic year
• Served as judicial fellow from 1994 to 1995 at the U.S. Supreme Court in the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice, where she received the Tom C. Clark Award
• American Political Science Association, Law and Courts Section
• Southern Political Science Association
• Supreme Court Historical Society
• Judicial Fellows Alumni Association

Experience with news media:

Perry has given extensive interviews and appeared on television and radio, including:

• MS-NBC
• CNN
• C-Span
• National Public Radio
• Public Radio International
• BBC
• Local public radio stations in Wisconsin, Virginia and the District of Columbia)
• Radio Free Europe
• Regular guest on Wisconsin Public Radio's "At Issue"

She has been widely quoted in magazines and newspapers, including:

• New York Times
• Washington Post
• USA Today
• Associated Press
• Cox Newspapers
• Knight-Ridder News Services

Education:

• B.A. University of Louisville
• M.A. University of Oxford
• Ph.D. University of Virginia

Key terms:

Supreme Court, affirmative action, government, politics, justice system, U.S. Constitution, civil rights, race, religion, John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Edward Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Sandra Day O'Connor, Mitch McConnell, and U.S. first ladies, Hillary Clinton, Dolley Madison