Clemson University has appointed George J. Petersen, the Provost Distinguished Professor of Educational Innovation, as the interim dean of the newly formed College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC). Petersen served as the founding dean of Clemson’s College of Education from 2014 to 2022 where he oversaw notable growth, increasing enrollment at the undergraduate and graduate programs by 37% and 105% respectively.

Prior to his work at Clemson, Petersen was dean of the Graduate School of Education at California Lutheran University. He also served as a faculty member at California Polytechnic State University, University of Missouri – Columbia, Bowling Green State University, and University of Evansville. His honors at Clemson include the Ralph D. Elliott Award for Exemplary Facilitation and Implementation of Innovative Programs for Continuing, Off-Campus and Distance Education and the Distinguished Research Award from the College of Education. He was also inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Petersen holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Educational Policy, Organizations, and Leadership Studies, as well as a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also has a B.A. in Philosophy from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy. 

“Dean Petersen’s administrative experience in establishing a successful new college at Clemson will be invaluable during the upcoming transition,” said Bob Jones, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “He will provide steady transitional leadership while the search begins for a permanent dean.”

The CAAC will be composed of the existing School of Architecture, the Department of Art, and the Nieri Department of Construction, Development, and Planning. They currently enroll 858 undergraduate and 274 graduate students across five undergraduate and 11 graduate degree programs. In 2020, Clemson’s M. Arch. program was reportedly ranked number nine in DesignIntelligence’s rankings of “healthy built environments,” number 15 in “design theory and practice” and number 20 in “most admired.” The School of Architecture was also ranked the number eight “most hired from” school in its size category.

“Clemson University is a very special place,” Petersen shared. “The ability to serve as the Founding Dean of the College of Education and now Interim Dean of the newly formed College of Architecture, Art and Construction is a rare and enviable opportunity. I am proud to be a part of such a remarkable university and college.”