Joel L. A. Peterson, PhD, is a first-time published book author. But you would never know that from reading his debut novel. In “Dreams of My Mothers,” he brings his unique personal background as a biracial international adoptee and combines it with his penetrating insights into multiple cultures as well as his extraordinary international professional and academic experiences to create an exceptionally enthralling and inspirational story.
Dr. Peterson was born in Korea to a peasant Korean woman. His biological father, an American GI, is unknown. Adopted from Korea into a small town in Minnesota when he was nearly seven years-old by a family of strong Swedish heritage, he grew up in America’s heartland, giving him compelling – and contrasting – experiences and rare insights into what drives culture, personal identity, and the power of a mother’s love and sacrifice. Dr. Peterson uses events from his personal background to craft his first novel, shedding new perspective on the evolving dialogue in America about race, family, identity, and the myth and reality of the American Dream.
Dr. Peterson is Vice Chancellor – Executive Operations Officer for one of the nation’s largest higher educational entities that serves 90,000 students. Dr. Peterson is a former US Navy officer and was previously a senior executive within world-spanning Fortune 100 corporations, and was an insider in the elite world of global mergers and acquisitions.
Dr. Peterson holds a PhD in Higher Education Policy and a MA in Education Finance from Claremont Graduate University; he earned his MBA from Virginia Tech and his BA in Economics from the University of Virginia. He lives in San Diego, California.
You can buy his book Dreams of My Mothers in eBook and Trade Paperback HERE