Brian Peterson was a scholar of Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. His great love was teaching FIU students – in particular, teaching World civilization. This course gave free rein to his extraordinary intellectual curiosity and space to share a great range of cultural expressions and historical experiences with students. His curriculum employed Wagnerian opera, Chinese scroll paintings, American feminist poetry- all chosen to engage students in interpreting historic change within a variety of theoretical possibilities. His love of teaching continued after his retirement as he continued to meet with students to read and discuss recent historical works.
