Penelope Peterson
Penelope L. Peterson is an American educational psychologist and academic administrator. Peterson was named Dean of Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy in September 1997 and previously served as University Distinguished Professor of Education at Michigan State University and Sears-Bascom Professor of Education at University of Wisconsin–Madison. She also served as president of the American Education Research Association (1996–1997). Peterson was one of the first females to receive her bachelor's degree in psychology and philosophy from Iowa State University in 1971, and she received a Ph.D. in psychological studies in education from the  Stanford Graduate School of Education in 1976. She remains Eleanor R. Baldwin Professor of Education. Peterson's books include "Restructuring in the Classroom: Teaching, Learning, and School Organization" (with Richard Elmore and Sarah McCarthey) and "Learning from Our Lives: Women, Research, and Autobiography in Education" (with Anna Neumann). Peterson's areas of expertise include (1) learning and teaching in schools and classrooms, particularly in literacy and mathematics; (2) student and teacher learning in reform contexts; and (3) relations among educational research, policy and practice. Academic awards and positions. In 1986, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) gave Peterson its Raymond  B. Cattell Early Award, citing her research into effective teaching and learning. From 1996-1997, Peterson served as AERA President. As president, she led an effort to make educational research more accessible to teachers, administrators, and policy makers. In [years needed], Peterson participated in the United States National Academy of Sciences Study Panel on the "Science of Learning." The panel's work culminated in production of "How People Learn," a monograph that integrated research on cognition, cognitive neuroscience, learning, and the design of effective educational environments. In addition, Peterson is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American  Psychological Society. International initiatives. From May 13–16, 2009, Peterson traveled to Beijing, China with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, as part of a cultural and business exchange between the Chinese capital and the Second City. The trip included a meeting with China's Minister of Education and visits to a technical junior high school and high school. According to Peterson, the trip led her to consider expanding SESP's international initiatives because of the importance for Northwestern students of connecting with their counterparts abroad, in particular with China. In February 2009, Peterson presented research at “The Internationalization of Education Research : How Will It Affect Teacher Education Programs?”, an AERA-sponsored forum. Her participation in the forum reflects the trend toward international studies of teacher preparation and student learning. In particular, the forum will focus on developing a new research organization with an international bent: the World Education Research Association (WERA). The WERA would help globalize education research into important aspects of learning and teaching, including assessment, accountability, studies of memory, and professional development.