“It’s an honor to be recognized by my peers,” Dr. Peterson said. “The bottom line is that Eastern is a teaching institution and it’s fun to be recognized and acknowledged as someone who teaches well.”

Dr. Peterson was awarded the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award with a vote and interview by his colleagues.  Historically, eligibility for the award is limited to faculty who have not received the award and who are continuing, full-time members of the faculty who have taught at Eastern for at least the past three years.

“By all accounts, the recipient of the 2008 Lindback Award is a fine scholar, a much loved teacher, and a valued colleague, who embodies the Eastern ideal of a passionate commitment to faith, reason, and justice,” said Provost/Dean Dr. Christopher A. Hall, speaking of Dr. Peterson.  “Students use a constellation of superlatives to describe his classes and his impact on them. Words like excellent, intriguing, challenging, eye-opening, edifying, considerate, knowledgeable, patient, personable, and approachable routinely appear in their comments.

“His marriage class, jointly taught with his wife, is among the most popular offered on our campus.  Colleagues likewise value his prudence and insight, having honored him with several terms as the faculty senate moderator and as chair of his department.  So there is broad agreement among students, faculty, and administrators that this professor has the transformative effect on the academic and spiritual life of our students that is so much valued at Eastern University.”

The following criteria were used in selecting Dr. Peterson for the award: His teaching is intellectually challenging and demanding; His teaching is coherent and lasting in its effect; His teaching helps to provide students with a critical view of the fundamentals of a discipline; His teaching relates the discipline to other disciplines and to the Christian world-view; His teaching reflects an openness to new ideas that can be articulated and supported; His teaching is fair, free of bias, and aims toward a pursuit of truth; His teaching reflects effective teaching methods and innovative procedures.

“I try to challenge students and give them something to remember,” Dr. Peterson said.  “It’s an honor to be recognized as someone who does so.”

Prior recipients of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award are Professors Betsy Morgan, Ken Maahs, Caroline Cherry, Sandy Bauer, David Bradstreet, Van Weigel, David Fraser, Tom Dahlstrom, Chris Hall, Eloise Meneses, Kathy Lee, Mark Hallen, Karen Clemente, Phil Cary, Wendy Mercier, Jack Bower, Kent Sparks, and Walt Huddell.