Michael Peterson
Professor & Department Chair
Behavioral Health & Nutrition
025 Carpenter Sports Bldg.
302-831-1014
pmpeter@udel.edu
Research Interests

Health Promotion Program Development and Evaluation

Social Marketing and Health Communications

Workplace Stress

Psychosocial & cultural aspects of health behavior
Education

Ed.D., University of Kentucky, 1993 - Health Promotion/Educ

Cert, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 1993 - Behavioral Medicine

M.A., California State University Los Angeles, 1990 - Exercise Science

B.A., Ambassador College, 1987 - Liberal Arts - Liberal Arts
Professional Experience

Chairman, University of Delaware, Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition. 2010 to
present

Professor, University of Delaware, Department of Health Nutrition, & Exercise Science. 2005 to
present.

Senior Consultant, Workplace Consultants Inc. 1998 to present

Graduate Faculty Member, Thomas Jefferson University, Masters in Public Health
Program. 2008 to present

Associate Professor, University of Delaware, Department of Health Nutrition, & Exercise
Science. 1998 to 2005

Director, Graduate Health Promotion Program, University of Delaware, 1998 to 2008

Director University of Delaware Wellness Center, 1997 through 1998

Assistant Professor, University of Delaware, Department of Health and Exercise Sciences.
1995 to 1998

Assistant Professor State University of New York at Oswego, Department of Health and
Physical Education, School of Education. 1993-1995

Employee Wellness Program Director, State University of New York at Oswego. 1993-1995

Consultant/Coordinator of Wellness Programming, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal
Correctional Institute, Atwood Drug Rehabilitation Center, Lexington, KY. 1991-1993

Director, Student Housing and Residential Life, Ambassador College. 1988-1990
Recent and Select Publications/Books & Publications
1. Woolley P, Peterson M (2012). Efficacy of a health related Facebook Social Networking site on
health-seeking behaviors. Social Marketing Quarterly. 18:29-39.
2. Kling L, Cotugna N, Snider S, Peterson PM (2009). Using metaphorical techniques in focus
groups to uncover mothers’ feelings about family meals. Nutrition Research and Practice. 3(3).
3. Massimini M, Peterson M (2009) Information and Communication Technology: affect on US
college students. Cyberpsychology. 3(1). Online at www.cyberpsychology.eu
4. Peterson M, Chandlee M, Abraham A. (2008) Cost-benefit analysis of a statewide media
Campaign to promote adolescent physical activity. Health Promotion Practice. 9(4),426-433
5. Jung J, Peterson M. (2007) Body dissatisfaction and patterns of media use among preadolescent
children. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal. 36; 40-54
6. Gemmill E, Peterson M. (2006) Technology use among college students: implications for student
affairs professionals. NASPA Journal. 43(2), 280-300.
7. Largo-Wight E, Peterson M., Chen W. (2005) Perceived problem solving, stress, and health
among college students. American Journal of Health Behavior. 29(4):360-370. Peterson M,
Abraham A, Waterfield A. (2005) Marketing physical activity: Lessons learned from a Statewide
Media Campaign. Journal of Health Promotion Practice 6: 437-446.
8. McChesney J, Peterson M (2005) There is no off-season any more. Athletic Therapy Today.
10(6), 6-10.
9. Peterson M (2004). What Men and Women Value at Work: Implications for Workplace Health.
Journal of Gender Medicine. 1(2),106-124.
10. Peterson M, Orsega-Smith E, Tholstrup L. (2004). Validity of the BMI-based Silhouette Matching
Test. American Journal of Health Behavior. 28(5);437-443.
11. Peterson M, Wilson J. (2004). Work Stress in America. International Journal of Stress
Management. Vol 11, May. 11(2);91-113.
12. Peterson M, Goodwin S, Ellenberg D. (2004). Analysis of an American Cancer Society’s
Generation Fit Project. American Journal of Health Education. 35(3);141-149.
13. Peterson M, Martin S. (2003) Associative Group Analysis: A Tobacco Prevention Case Study.
Social Marketing Quarterly 9(2), 32-49.
14. Peterson M, Ellenberg D, Crossan S. (2003) Body image perceptions: reliability of a BMI based
silhouette matching test. American Journal of Health Behavior. 27(4), 355-363.
15. Robinson MJ, Peterson M, Carpenter JR. (2003) Job satisfaction on NCAA III athletic directors:
Impact of job design and time on task. International Sports Journal. Summer, 46-57.
16. Peterson, M., & Wilson, J. (2002) The Culture-Work-Health model and work stress. American
Journal of Health Behavior 26(1), 16-24.
17. Dunnagan, T., Peterson, M., & Haynes G. (2001) Mental health issues in the workplace: a case
for a new managerial approach. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 43(12),
1073-1080.
18. Peterson, M (2000) Health Promotion Values. Health Promotion Practice. 1(3).
19. Peterson, M. (1999). Preventive stress management in organizations. American Journal of
Health Behavior. 23(1):73-77.
20. Peterson, M., & Dunnagan, T. (1998). Analysis of a work site health promotion programs impact
on job satisfaction. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 40(11), 973-979.
21. Peterson, M., & Wilson, J. (1998) A culture-work-health model: A theoretical perspective.
American Journal of Health Behavior. 22(5). 378-390.
22. Peterson, P.M., & Dunnagan, T. (1998). Issues in Rural Health Programming: A Center
Perspective. Journal of Rural Health. 14(1), 9-16.
23. Peterson, M. (1997) Skills to enhance problem-based learning. Medical Education Online.
[http://www.utmb.edu/meo].
24. Peterson, P.M. (1997) A Team-based Approach to Problem-based Learning: An Evaluation of
Structured Team Problem Solving. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching.
25. Dunnagan, T., Peterson, P.M., Wilson, J. (1997) Qualitative evaluation techniques and wellness
programming. American Journal of Health Studies.
26. Peterson, P.M. (1997) Work, Corporate Culture and Stress: Implications for Worksite Health
Promotion. American Journal of Health Behavior. 21(4), 243-252.
27. Peterson, P.M. (1996) Structured Team Problem Solving: Innovation in Health Education and
Promotion. Catalyst. 23(1), 4-6.
28. Peterson, P.M., & Wilson, J. (1996) Job Satisfaction and Perceptions of Health. Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 38(9), 891-898.
29. Peterson, P.M. (1996) Health Perception and Behavior Comparisons Between Wellness
Program Participants and Non-participants. Journal of Wellness Perspectives. 12(3), 155-160.
30. Peterson, P.M. & Johnstone, B. (1995) The Atwood Hall Health Promotion Program, Federal
Medical Center, Lexington KY: Effects on drug-involved federal offenders. Journal of Substance
Abuse Treatment. 12(1), 43-48.
Abstracts
1. Abraham A, Peterson PM, Waterfield DA (2003). Efficacy of a Statewide Social Marketing
Campaign to Promote Physical Activity. Medical Science in Sports and Exercise. 34(5);
Supplement.
2. Abraham A, Peterson PM, Waterfield, DA (2004). The Delaware Lieutenant Governor’s
Challenge: First Year Results. 51st Annual Meeting American College of Sports Medicine.
Indianapolis, Indiana. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 36(5): Supplement.
3. Robinson, M. Peterson M. (2004). Job Satisfaction and Stress of NCAA Directors in Athletics.
Books and Publications
1. Peterson, P. Michael (2008) Culture, Ethics, and the Board. In. Governance for Health Care
Providers. Nash, D. Editor.
2. Peterson M. (2003). Work Stress—An Individual Approach. Cortext Continuing Medical
Education. Jobson Publishing Co: New York.
3. Peterson M. (2003). Work Stress—A Socio-ecological Approach. Cortext Continuing Medical
Education. Jobson Publishing Co: New York.
4. Peterson M. (2002) Creating the Dream Team. Skills for Productivity, Profit and Performance.
Workplace Consultants, Inc.: Landenberg, PA.
Grants
Ongoing Research Support

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (2012-2014)
Statewide Healthy Communities Cooperative Initiative (Peterson M, PI)

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (2009-2012)
Implementation and Evaluation of a Statewide Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Campaign
(Peterson M., PI)

Delaware Health Sciences Alliance (2011-2013)
Development of a Graduate Certificate in Health Coaching (Peterson M, PI)

Delaware Women Infants and Children Program (2011-13)
Development and assessment of a Food Demonstration Intervention (Peterson M, PI)
Completed Research Support

Nemours Health and Preventions Services (2007-2008)
To conduct a research policy scan related to the built environment ( Peterson M., PI)

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (2001-2009)
Implementation and Evaluation of a Statewide Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Campaign
(Peterson M., PI)

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (2009-2010)
Evaluation of a Community-based Diabetes Prevention Initiative. (Peterson M., Co-PI)

Delaware Women Infants and Children Program (2010-11)
Evaluation of a community based health behavior therapist intervention among WIC clients.
(Peterson M., PI)

Nemours Health and Prevention Services (2010)
Evaluation and creation of a tool to assess routes to school for safety. Tool will be used to
determine policy and infrastructural changes needed to support walkable and bike-able
communities. (Peterson M., PI)

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services—ARRA (2010-2012)
Assessment of environmental and community based interventions to promote healthy eating and
physical activity (Peterson M, PI)
Honors & Awards

Senior Scholar, Thomas Jefferson University Medical College. Department of Health Policy.
(2006).

Health Education Network of Delaware Special Award for service and leadership provided to
health professionals throughout the State of Delaware (2004)

University of Delaware Department of Nursing Award for contributions to the education and
professional growth of nursing students. (2000)
Courses
Graduate Courses

Advanced Health Promotion Programming and Evaluation

Health and the Media

Human Response to Stress

Social Marketing & Health Communications

Statistics

Survey Research Methods

Independent Studies
Undergraduate Courses

Development of Health Promotion Programs

Research Methods and Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

Dynamics of Team Problem Solving

Health Behavior Science Issues and Topics

Health and Aging

Health Behavior Theory and Assessment

Principles of Fitness Management

Personal Wellness