PULLMAN, Wash. — Gary “Pete” W. Peterson, has been appointed chair of the Washington State University human development department, effective July 1.
His appointment was announced here today by James Zuiches, dean of the WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics.
Peterson succeeds Joye Dillman, interim chair, who will return to teaching and research in the family resource management area of the department. Peterson is chair of the Arizona State University sociology department. Previously he was chair of the ASU family resources and human development department for nine years.
Peterson’s career includes serving as chair of the family science section of the National Council on Family Relations, serving on the board of directors for the National Council on Family Relations, and research on low-income, rural youth from Appalachia.
As chair of the WSU human development department, Peterson plans to continue his research on parent-adolescent relationships in several cultures and his research on substance use and abuse issues involving children and youth. The former project involves data gathered in Chile, the Czech Republic, China, India, Mexico, Russia and the United States.
In addition, Peterson serves as co-editor of the academic journal, “Marriage and Family Review.”
Peterson received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and his doctorate in family studies from Brigham Young University.
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