Dan Peterson, Ph.D.
Professor of Communication
Dean of Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities
Office: Mary Moody Northen Hall 161
Email: dpeterson@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2780
Professional Profile
Dr. Peterson joined the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities in 2024. He received a B.A. in Public Relations and an M.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, and a Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Following graduate school, he started his career as an assistant professor at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. Prior to joining the College of Fine Arts and Humanities at WT, he served for 17 years as faculty member and later as dean of the College of Health, Arts, and Sciences at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Peterson’s teaching background is in the areas of organizational communication, teamwork, leadership, and public presentation. He has taught a variety of courses in interpersonal and mass communication from core to the graduate level and is familiar with both face to face and online learning. He is particularly passionate about the teaching of basic public speaking.
When not in the classroom, Dr. Peterson has focused much of his effort on faculty representation, growth, and development. While at Oregon Tech he served as department head, faculty senate president, and faculty member of its governor appointed inaugural board of trustees. His focus is also on community as an active trainer and consultant for local government and nonprofit organizations. He also served the Klamath Falls, Oregon community as a member of the local Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. Peterson is a qualitative researcher with an emphasis in the study of organizational culture. In particular, his focus is on the development of organizational culture in small, rural businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors. In the past several years his research has focused on the pedagogy of public speaking, including communication apprehension, audience analysis, and anecdotal story-telling. His interest in communication apprehension has recently blended into collaborative work on the impact of social tension in small groups and teams and how this impacts team dynamics.
Personal Sketch
Dr. Peterson and his wife Cathy have four children with whom he enjoys spending time. He enjoys a garden, the kitchen, and jogging on an open road. He is enthusiastic about the fine arts and humanities and marvels at the talents and abilities of the faculty and students with whom he works.