Benjamin Perryman, JSD Student, Receives Trudeau Scholarship

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation in Canada has named Benjamin Perryman ’13 LLM a Trudeau scholar.

Perryman, who is currently pursuing his JSD at Yale Law School, will analyze how the emerging “Science of Happiness” can be used to rethink constitutional theory and decision-making.

“By incorporating subjective well-being insights from psychology, economics, and neuroscience,” Benjamin says, “courts can construct a constitutional framework that better reflects the needs and aspirations of all persons, including marginalized groups.”

The Trudeau scholarship is recognized as the most prestigious doctoral award of its kind in Canada. This year, 16 scholarships were awarded to support social sciences and doctoral candidates focused on researching and sharing innovative ideas to help solve issues of critical importance to Canadians.

Over their three-year doctoral scholarship, Trudeau scholars work with an engaged and inspiring community of scholars, mentors, and fellows that accelerates their professional growth. As part of the $60,000 annual package, Trudeau scholarships include a $20,000 travel and networking allowance that facilitates scholars’ fieldwork and helps them organize and participate in global research and Foundation events. Since the program’s inception in 2003, the Foundation has awarded 187 scholarships representing an investment of $20 million in Canada’s intellectual leadership.