People need to realize that faculty of these institutions, like most other universities, aren't hired because they are the smartest people on the planet. There is no objective testing involved, and they don't look at ACT or SAT scores like they do for admission as a student. People get hired as faculty at these institutions for a variety of reasons, including a proven capacity to bring in grant money, how much you've published, or whether or not you fit a specific demographic that the university wants to add to their diversity profile.
None of the above define a person as ‘the brightest’, or most creative, etc.
Perry appears to be suffering from black princetonitis, probably terminal.