Gretchen Peterson
Professor and Chair
Gretchen Peterson is a Professor of Sociology and is currently serving as the Department Chair for the Sociology Department. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 2000.
Prof. Peterson's primary research interests are in the areas of sociology of sports and social psychology. She is particularly interested in the intersection of those two areas and also has specific interests in the sociology of emotions and the sociology of gender. She utilizes a variety of research methods in her studies including experiments, surveys, and ethnographic fieldwork. Her current research agenda focuses on adult recreational sports, particularly softball.
Prof. Peterson's research has been published in American Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology, Sociology Compass, and the Handbook of the Sociology of Emotions.
Prof. Peterson has broad teaching interests that include sports, gender, social psychology, and research methods. She is interested in connecting her teaching with community engagement.