Derek R. Peterson (born May 13, 1971) is an American historian specializing in the cultural history of East Africa.
[2][3][4][5][6] Born May 13, 1971, Peterson is from Maine, New York and attended Maine–Endwell High School.
After graduating, he was awarded a Fulbright grant to study in Kenya for a year.
[2] Between 2004 and 2009 he was the director of Centre for African Studies at the University of Cambridge,[9] where he edited a series of monographs on African studies,[10] and initiated an academic exchange programme between Cambridge and universities in Africa.
[9] He took a position at the University of Michigan in 2009, joining its newly founded African Studies Center (ASC).