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Name: Tony Petersen
Title: Lecturer
Department: History
Academic Degree(s):

• B. A. Political Science, Fresno State
• M. A. History, Fresno State
• M. A. Theological Studies, Multnomah Biblical Seminary

How long have you worked at Fresno State?
I have taught in the History Department since 2017.

Are you a Valley native?
I was born and raised in Fresno. Both of my parents graduated from here. It was natural that I would attend Fresno State as an undergraduate, and this made it attractive to return as an adjunct faculty member as well.

Do you have a campus mentor or someone who has helped you in your career?
I have received lots of help over the years. The person who has been the most helpful has been Dr. Lori Clune. It was she who, when I was an undergraduate considering attending Claremont Graduate School to study political philosophy, encouraged me to consider applying for the history grad program on campus.

Then, she gave me valuable scholarly experience when I was able to be her graduate assistant. She has continued to provide helpful advice on teaching and organizing collegiate classes in the years since. She is a wonderful mentor and friend.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
The History Department is very impressive, with a number of professors who have published excellent books and are top scholars in their field.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
I mostly focus on classroom teaching, but I have been published several times. This includes an essay on the ways American conservatives have remembered the Civil War for an online magazine called The Imaginative Conservative, an essay on the presidency of John Adams for libertarianism.org, and a revision of my master’s thesis on the coming of the American Revolution for a peer-reviewed academic journal.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
As far as subject matter goes, I have spent the most time studying, reading about and researching in archives about the decade or so in the run-up to the American Revolution. As far as teaching goes, I am most passionate about seeing students grow in their interest in history, and learning generally.

What is a memorable moment you had at your job?
I would say that my most memorable moment in class was one of my first moments. It was my first day of teaching and I was about to go over the syllabus. As soon as I started talking, students pulled out their notebooks and laptops and began taking notes. I remember marveling at this: I was only going over the syllabus.

I was struck then, and I continue to be struck today, at the kind of, for lack of a better word, power that teachers and professors have. It both thrilled me and filled me with a sense of responsibility not to abuse such power.

What is your teaching style?
Much of my time in the classroom is spent either lecturing or leading a discussion centered around primary or secondary source documents. I try to be myself, so there are lots of corny jokes and references to sporting events. I try to make sure that every one of my lectures tells a specific narrative about the past, because history is not simply the aggregate of all the things that have ever happened, it is a story about what has happened.

What is the most interesting or unusual job you've ever had?
I spent a little over two years living in Germany, working for a local church in a small city. I learned the German language and culture and ministered to people in many different ways. My wife and I had our first child in Germany. It was a wonderful time in our lives.

What is your favorite quote or saying?
I have lots of favorite quotes that go with various elements of my life. As far as history goes, I would have to say this, from John Lukacs: “History is the memory of mankind… it is the remembered past.”

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I love spending time with my family. Much of my time is spent with my church. I love reading books, watching movies and following sports.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I am a minority owner of the Green Bay Packers.