Biography

Peter Iverson is Emeritus Professor at Arizona State University (ASU) and served as 44th WHA president (2004-2005). He held faculty positions at ASU (1975-1981), and the University of Wyoming (1981-1984). In 1986 he became Program Director at ASU West. He joined the History Department at ASU Main Campus in 1988 where he retired in 2011 as Regents Professor of History, an honor received in 2000. Iverson served as Anderson Visiting Professor of American Studies at Carleton College (1991) and Acting Director of the McNickle Center for American Indian History at the Newberry Library (1994-1995). Iverson received his B.A. (1967) from Carlton College, and his M.A. (1969) and Ph.D. (1975) both from University of Wisconsin, Madison. His awards and fellowships include several teaching awards, a McNickle Center for American History Fellowship, an American Philosophical Society Research Grant, three NEH Fellowships, the Chief Manuelito Appreciation Award for Contributions to Navajo Education, and a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. His publications include Diné: A History of the Navajos (2002), We are Still Here (1998), When Indians Became Cowboys (1994), and Carlos Montezuma (1982). Iverson’s dedication to American Indian Studies and Western History extends beyond the classroom and the archive. He has been involved with Native American communities especially the Navajo Nation. His respect and interest for the Navajo was imbued in him by his grandparents who lived in Navajo country where his grandfather was principal in schools at Fort Wingate, Keams Canyon, and Toadlena. In 1969 Iverson served on faculty at Diné (Navajo Community) College where he taught from 1969-1972. Throughout his scholarship Iverson credits many people as his teachers, especially Navajo elders and friends. His acknowledgements of these individuals are indicative of his approach to his own students who regard him as a generous mentor and teacher. All his students have benefited from his knowledge and wisdom since he began his teaching career. In 2003 ASU recognized Iverson for service to students by naming him outstanding Doctoral Mentor. As of May 2015, his final two PhD students defended their dissertations, making it a total of 51 doctoral students that he has mentored throughout his career.