- Inaugural Address: Inauguration remarks of Dr. James L. Peterson
- Inauguration Photo Gallery: Collection of photos from Inauguration Weekend
- Presidential Medallion: History of this inaugural tradition
- Photo Gallery: Collection of personal and Gustavus photos of President Peterson
- Biography: The biography of Dr. James L. Peterson
- Past Presidents: A chronological listing of Gustavus presidents
Presidential Biography
James L. Peterson, Ph.D., has been named the 14th president of Gustavus Adolphus College. Since 1984 Dr. Peterson has been president and CEO of the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.
Under Peterson's leadership, the science museum became a major producer of Omnitheater science education films; built one of the largest membership programs in the country for a single science museum; developed one of the most extensive and diverse museum-based continuing education programs in the country; initiated an innovative statewide outreach program to schools; and became one of the most successful developers of traveling science exhibitions among the nation's major museums. Throughout his tenure, the museum maintained balanced annual budgets and significantly enhanced its endowment. Also, he was at the center of planning and fundraising that resulted in the construction of a new publicly/privately funded $100 million, 400,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility overlooking the Mississippi River.
Active in the national and international museum communities, Dr. Peterson served on the Accreditation Commission of the American Association of Museums and on the National Science Foundation's Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources, and co-chaired an international science center initiative on equity and diversity. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Science-Technology Centers and is a past president.
Dr. Peterson began his career as a high school science teacher. He taught in Peoria, Ill., and Osseo, Minn., before leaving to pursue his doctorate. After receiving his Ph.D., Peterson served as a research associate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for two years. He then made the transition to the National Commission on Water Quality in Washington, D.C., where he was a staff ecologist. From 1976 to 1984, Peterson served as a vice president in the areas of systematics and evolutionary biology, environmental research, and institutional advancement at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.
Dr. Peterson holds a B.A. in biology from Gustavus Adolphus College (1964) and a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1972).
Did you know?
The Swedish House (Svenska Huset) was established in 1974 as a residence for selected students with language proficiency in Swedish and anticipating or returning from study in Sweden.
Women's Soccer Gives Up Goal In Final Minute, Loses To Macalester 1-0
The Gustavus women's soccer team battled the Macalester Scots to a scoreless tie through 89 minutes, but the Scots' Emily Humphries scored her first collegiate goal with 40 seconds left in regulation play handing the Gusties a heartbreaking 1-0 loss. The Gusties fall to 6-5-2 overall and 2-4-1, while Macalester improves to 9-3-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the MIAC.
Men's Golf Finishes 11th At Weather-Shortened Twin Cities Classic
The Gustavus men's golf team wrapped up its fall season with an 11th place finish at its own 20-team Twin Cities Classic. The tournament was scheduled to begin on Saturday, however cold and snow canceled the first round. On Sunday, an 18-hole round was played at the Links at Northfork in Ramsey, Minn., but the snow forecast for Monday forced the cancellation of the final round and Saint John's who fired a team score of 289 was declared the winner. Gustavus posted a total of 302.
First Round of Twin Cities Invitational Cancelled Due To Snow and Cold Weather
The first round of the 54-hole Twin Cities Classic hosted by the Gustavus men's golf team was postponed due to cold and snow on Saturday. The tournament will attempt to continue on Sunday with 18 holes scheduled to be played at The Links at Northfork in Ramsey, Minn. and the final round will be played at Wayzata Country Club on Monday.
