Dr. Dennis Peterson

Dr. Dennis Peterson joined McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. in 2024 following a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years as a superintendent in Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Throughout his career, he earned a reputation for exceptional educational leadership, school finance expertise, and legislative advocacy.

Dr. Peterson has received numerous honors, including Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, South Dakota Superintendent of the Year, ERDI Superintendent of the Year, and the HumaneX Builder of Legacy Impact Hall of Fame Award. He was also recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 Administrators by NSBA and received the AASA Finis Engleman Education Industries Scholarship. His doctoral dissertation was honored by the National School Finance Association as the Outstanding Thesis in School Finance.

An active leader in state and national professional organizations, Dr. Peterson has served in numerous executive and committee roles with AASA, ERDI, the Midwest Suburban Superintendents, and superintendent associations across multiple states. He has also played a significant role in education policy and school finance, including designing South Dakota’s statewide school finance and tax system and the state’s post-secondary vocational school funding model. Dr. Peterson earned degrees from the University of Colorado, Stanford University, and the University of South Dakota.