Petersen takes helm at CLU's School of Education

George J. Petersen has returned home for his new job as dean of the School of Education at California Lutheran University.

Petersen went to Buena High School and Ventura College, then later taught social studies at St. Bonaventure High School before working as an administrator in the Midwest and in San Luis Obispo.

"I liked the idea of coming back to where all the landmarks are familiar," he said shortly after starting his job on July 1 at the Thousand Oaks university. Petersen succeeds Carol Bartell, who recently retired.

Petersen comes from a family of educators. His mother taught kindergarten in the Ventura Unified School District for years. His dad taught science for Los Angeles Unified.

But Petersen didn't always plan to go into teaching. After Ventura College, he went to university in Rome, thinking about becoming a priest. He realized after he graduated that the priesthood wasn't his calling, but that teaching was.

"I thought teaching was more my profession. ... It was a natural segue," he said.

He proved to be right. At his first job, Petersen was named one of the top 100 first-year teachers nationwide by the American Association of School Administrators.

Petersen has no plans to make any immediate changes in the School of Education, other than to bring some stability after several turnovers in leadership. For the time being, he said, he's being an anthropologist, observing and listening.

"I want to get to know everyone, then in collaboration with them make some plans," he said.

Petersen brings to the job extensive experience in teaching and leadership, as well as an outgoing personality that will help him make connections with local school districts, said Leanne Neilson, provost at CLU. Also, in his last job, he was co-director of a doctoral program in educational leadership, an area of growth for the School of Education, she said.

"His expertise is in educational leadership, and that's what the dean's position is all about - educational leadership," Neilson said. "You couldn't find a better fit than that."

--- Published in the Ventura County Star on July 13, 2010