Thomas D. Perry Memorial Fund

Students being taught in a Philosophy class.

Students with outstanding dissertations in philosophy are eligible for this prestigious award.

The Thomas Perry Dissertation Prize is awarded for the best dissertation completed in the previous academic year by a student in the University at Buffalo Philosophy Department. The prize is funded by the Thomas D. Perry Memorial Fund, which was established by Mr. Thomas D. Perry and Mrs. Patricia K. Perry.

Thomas D. Perry, a graduate of the UB Law School, served as a legal counselor to Congress and later, Bell Aerospace Corporation. He earned a PhD in philosophy from Columbia University, then taught philosophy at UB, where he was active in department activities, including assisting in the development of the university's philosophy and law joint degree program.

Dr. Perry was particularly interested in moral reasoning and legal philosophy, and published many works in distinguished journals, in addition to authoring a book on philosophy. He was honored by the Aristotelian Society in Britain, which his friend and colleague Dr. Jorge Gracia referred to as, "...an honor that is only rarely accorded a living philosopher." D. Perry died in 1982, at the young age of 58.

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Other Arts and Sciences Funds

News from the College of Arts and Sciences

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    11/18/25

    Duane Betts ignites and brings an evolution to the Southern rock tradition. With a fiery legacy forged by his father, the legendary Dickey Betts, the second-generation musician infuses it with his own soul-stirring blend of blues, raw passion and six-string mastery.

  • NSF funds two inclusive language projects by UB linguist
    11/12/25

    One grant will facilitate the adoption of underrepresented languages in new technologies; the other will train students in research methods related to conducting field work in those languages.

  • UB researchers receive $3 million NIH grant to test innovative sexual assault prevention measure
    11/7/25

    Friend-based motivational interview takes into consideration the effects drinking may have on an individual’s ability to recognize and respond to risk.

  • UB study tracks evolution of human saliva back to primates
    11/6/25

    Oral biology, biological sciences researchers publish findings in evolution journal.

  • Study links climate anxiety to social media use
    10/30/25

    Climate doom, the belief that climate change will cause societal breakdowns, predicts support for radical actions, according to study.

  • What’s really happening when whales sing?
    10/29/25

    “Singing whales aren’t performing, they’re exploring. … Whales see with song,” says Eduardo Mercado III, PhD.

  • UB to offer a fully online graduate degree in ontology
    10/28/25

    The applied ontology degree will prepare students from around the world for work in this rapidly growing interdisciplinary branch of information science.