Northwest Nazarene University announced Brent Peterson as dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministries (STCM).

"Dr. Peterson's extensive experience in church leadership as an effective pastor and preacher, his significant contributions as a Wesleyan-Holiness theologian/scholar, and his strong record as a university educator have prepared him well for the important role as dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministries,” said Ed Robinson, vice president for Academic Affairs.

Peterson, a fourth-generation member of the Church of the Nazarene, grew up predominantly in Phoenix, Arizona, and it was during his years there that he sensed a call into full-time Christian ministry. This call was encouraged and supported by family and wonderful pastors. He later attended NNU and majored in religious studies with an emphasis in biblical literature. Peterson had the opportunity to be a youth pastoral intern at Nampa First and Valley Shepherd Churches of the Nazarene before graduating in 1996.  At NNU he met and married Anne Freeman.

The Petersons then headed to Kansas City for Peterson to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary. While at NTS, he served as pastor of student ministries at Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene, and he continued his ministry in an expanded role after graduating in 2000.

The Petersons later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he studied for a Ph.D. in liturgical studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Peterson also pastored the Chicago Northside Church of the Nazarene while studying there.

In 2009, Peterson accepted a call to begin teaching theology at Northwest Nazarene University and completed the Ph.D. in May 2010. He has continued to participate in the local church serving as interim pastor, Sunday school teacher, and camp speaker. Peterson has also been involved in leadership of the Wesleyan Theological Society, where he is currently serving as its secretary-treasurer.  He authored Created to Worship: God’s Invitation to Become Fully Human, as well as numerous articles in academic and denominational publications.

“[Peterson’s] genuine spiritual commitment as a follower of Jesus and his calling as an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene provide a solid foundation for his vision, leadership, and teaching,” Robinson said. “All of these factors make Dr. Peterson a strong choice as dean and ideally matched with the School of Theology and Christian Ministries' purpose to prepare women and men for Christian ministry as well as provide theological and biblical resources for the university and the church at large. I am confident that Dr. Peterson, together with his faculty colleagues, will live into that purpose in the years to come."

Peterson’s wife Anne is a physician assistant general surgeon. They have three children: Noah, Alexi, and Sydney.

--Northwest Nazarene University