New Dean Named for WT’s Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — The former dean of an Oregon university has been named dean of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities at West Texas A&M University.

Dr. Dan Peterson, previously the dean of the College of Health, Arts and Sciences at Oregon Institute of Technology, began his duties June 20 at WT.

“Fine arts and humanities should be right at a university’s core, and I see so many opportunities here,” Peterson said. “The nurturing of high-demand skills in creativity, innovation, and interaction for all WT students through this college is tremendous.”

“The Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities has an outstanding reputation of educating and graduating students who bring beauty and culture to the Panhandle, and from here the world,” said WT President Walter V. Wendler. “Dr. Peterson’s experience in teaching, research and service is an important and exciting addition to the College.”

“I am delighted that Dr. Peterson has joined WT’s academic leadership team,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “His experience in critical areas such as teaching, budgeting, strategic planning, curriculum development, and fundraising, as well as his record of successfully working with others in a collegial environment, will enrich the future path of the college.”

Peterson, who earned a Ph.D. in interpersonal communication from Ohio University and his bachelor’s and master’s in communications from Brigham Young University, has spent the bulk of his career at Oregon Institute of Technology, working his way up from professor to dean. He previously taught at Missouri State University.

As dean in Oregon, he led nine departments with 20 undergraduate degree programs and three graduate degree programs.

At WT, he will oversee four departments — the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance; the Department of Communication; the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages; and the Department of History — as well as the School of Music and the Office of General Majors.

“I look forward to working with this outstanding faculty who lead ranked and highly regarded programs, both regionally and nationally,” Peterson said. “The fine arts have always been an important part of my life, in addition to my background in communication, so I’m excited for the opportunities presented here.”

About 800 undergraduates and graduates major in programs offered by the College. All students pursuing a degree at a Texas public institution must take 42 hours of core coursework. At WT, about half of those hours are taught by the College’s faculty members, so a significant percentage of the University’s students, regardless of their major, are directly interacting with the College. 

Peterson and wife Cathy will live in Canyon with their son, who will be a high school junior; the couple also has three adult daughters.

“In my short time in the area, I can already tell how well-regarded WT is in the community,” Peterson said. “I can see important relationships that exist between the programs in the college and the Panhandle region. It is clear to me that people really appreciate WT and pay attention to what’s going on around campus.”

WT’s School of Fine Arts was established in 1969. It was elevated in 1989 to a College and named for Harrington, the prominent Amarillo philanthropist, in recognition of gifts given by her and The Don & Sybil Harrington Foundation, which are collectively the second-largest giver to the University.

Fostering an appreciation of the arts and humanities is a key mission of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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