John D. Petersen (born November 21, 1947) is an American chemist and educator who was president of the University of Tennessee system.
In 1975 he received a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where his dissertation was entitled Photochemical and Photophysical Studies of Rhodium(III) Ammine Complexes.
In 1980, he joined the faculty of Clemson University, where he was associate dean for research for the College of Sciences and head of the chemistry department.
In 1986-87, he spent a year at Universität Regensburg in Germany as Alexander von Humboldt research fellow and guest professor.
During his presidency, the university received its largest research grant ever, $65 million for construction of what was called "the world’s fastest unclassified supercomputer."
[12] Petersen announced his departure from the University of Tennessee presidency in February 2009, taking administrative leave beginning March 1 of that year and resigning effective June 30.