Oscar and Gertrude Boe Overby Distinguished Professor
Established in 2006 by the Board of Regents to recognize long-time servants of the College who are distinguished for their teaching, professional work, and service to the college and community, t his chair honors two legendary members of the St. Olaf music department: Oscar R. Overby '21, who taught, composed, directed, and performed music from 1921 to 1950, and soprano Gertrude Boe Overby '23, who taught voice and sang solos with the St. Olaf choir from 1930 through 1952.
Dr. Peterson, the first holder of this professorship, is chair of the Sociology Department and former Associate Dean for Social Sciences. Her teaching and research focuses on current issues in the Middle East, global interdependence, women and development, education and social change, and the development of international normative standards. Since 1989, Peterson has served as a special policy advisor on education reform to the Egyptian Minister of Education. She has also worked with the United Nations Council on Equality for Women, mainly on the issue of comparable worth. She regularly teaches courses on the arab world , global interdependence, and human rights.
