Chase Nebeker Peterson (December 27, 1929 – September 14, 2014) was an American physician who became dean of admissions at his alma mater,

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

, and dean of the health sciences at the

University of Utah The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...

, before being selected president of the

in 1983.

Biography

Chase N. Peterson MD grew up in

Logan, Utah Logan is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The 2020 United States Census, 2020 census recorded the population at 52,778. Logan is the county seat of Cache County and the principal city of the Logan metropolitan area, which includes Ca ...

, where his father, E. G. Peterson, was the president of

Utah State University Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public university, public land grant colleges, land-grant research university with its main campus in Logan, Utah, United States. Founded in 1888 under the Morrill Land-Grant Acts as Utah's federal ...

. After attending a Massachusetts

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...

, Peterson earned his bachelor's and doctor of medicine degrees from

. He practiced medicine in Utah before returning to Harvard in 1967 to become dean of admissions. Instead of using quotas to admit more American Black students, Peterson notably hired an African-American to be part of the admissions staff and thereby increased recruiting of black students. Peterson married Ane Grethe Ballif, who after her marriage was normally referred to as Grethe Ballif Peterson. Grethe was a graduate of

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

and pursued graduate studies at

Radcliffe College Radcliffe College was a Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that was founded in 1879. In 1999, it was fully incorporated into Harvard Colle ...

Southern Connecticut State College Southern Connecticut State University (Southern Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State, SCSU, or simply "Southern") is a public research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Part of the Connecticut State University System, it w ...

and the

. Y High Alumni bio of Grethe Peterson/ref> While at Harvard, Peterson served as a

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of the University

Ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

. In 1978, Peterson left Harvard to become dean of health sciences at the University of Utah. In 1983 he succeeded David P. Gardner as president of the university. The first human implantation of an

artificial heart An artificial heart is a artificial organ, device that replaces the human heart, heart. Artificial hearts are typically used as a bridge to heart transplantation, but ongoing research aims to develop a device that could permanently replace the ...

and the Fleischmann–Pons experiment took place at the university on his watch. Peterson retired from the university in 1991, though continued teaching a course at the medical school until his death. In 2006, Peterson received the Harvard Alumni Association medal. Dr. Chase Peterson died at 84 of pneumonia on September 14, 2014.

References

Sources

* Alan K. Parrish. "Harvard and the Gospel: An Informal History" in ''Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint History: New England'', p. 131.
Chase N. Peterson Presidential Records
* 1929 births 2014 deaths American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Harvard Medical School alumni Harvard University staff People from Logan, Utah Presidents of the University of Utah Latter Day Saints from Massachusetts Latter Day Saints from Utah {{Utah-bio-stub