Darleen V. Peterson

Darleen V. Peterson serves as Professor of Practice and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Claremont Graduate University's School of Community & Global Health, directing both the Certificate and MPH programs with administrative oversight of academic operations.

Her educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research) from University of Southern California
• MPH in Community Health Education from California State University, Northridge
• MA in Communications Management from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication

Peterson's research specializes in health communication evaluation, particularly statewide tobacco control campaigns and pro-tobacco marketing assessment. Her work bridges public health education accreditation with multicultural health promotion, emphasizing cultural competence frameworks and evidence-based intervention design for diverse populations. This dual focus manifests in both policy-oriented tobacco research and practical guides for health educators.

Publication trends from 2006-2022 reveal consistent contributions to public health implementation science, evolving from tobacco policy adoption studies to comprehensive program planning models. The 2022 co-edited textbook advances the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework for behavioral, environmental and policy change, while earlier works establish foundational connections between intermedia processes, cultural competence, and adolescent health outcomes.

Holding Masters-level Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) credentials, Peterson has co-edited two major textbooks and published in journals including Preventive Medicine and Pedagogy in Health Promotion. Her academic leadership extends to directing CGU's public health programs and developing competency-mapped curricula that integrate field training with classroom instruction.