Dr. John Peters – Dean, International Programs

Hello and welcome to International Programs at Marist! I’ve had the pleasure of serving as Dean of International Programs at the College since 2009, and have been involved in international education my entire professional career. From the Australian outback, to the jungles of Madagascar, the landscapes of Mongolia, the streets of Havana, and the center of Florence, I have loved witnessing and playing some small but important part in students’ intercultural exploration as well as personal growth and development.

One thing I love about international education is that done correctly, we all remain students of the world, indefinitely. We are challenged to explore new things and to see the familiar with new eyes. As individuals, communities, cultures, and nations, international education serves to bring us together to build a better world, in some cases one interaction or connection at a time.

My own journey started in California; born in Los Angeles and raised in the small city of Jackson in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. My sister studied abroad while in high school and my family hosted international students early on, so it didn’t take me long to catch the travel bug and want to get out and see things for myself. I was fortunate to study abroad for two of my undergraduate years, in Japan and Zimbabwe. My studies always focused on things international, including my Bachelors’ from CSU Sacramento; two MA degrees from Ohio University; and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Prior to Marist, I enjoyed developing and running study abroad programs in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere across the globe while working for another educational institution.

If you’re a student considering studying abroad but aren’t quite sure about it, I encourage you to go ahead and jump. Truly navigating a new context and culture is most often pivotal and transformative. You’ll learn more about yourself and the complexity and diversity of our shared story than you might be able to imagine today. Hope to see you out there!

Email: john.peters@marist.edu