A Missoula couple, Suzanne and Dave Peterson gave gifted education in Montana a boost on Friday, as their $1.5 million commitment to the University of Montana’s Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences was announced. 

Their gift will create the Suzanne and Dave Peterson Distinguished Professor of Gifted Education.

Communications and Outreach Officer Peter Knox said the gift is an exciting addition for the school of education.

"It's our very first named professorate in the college of education and human sciences, in the hope that it will someday be endowed," Knox said. "It's the first of its kind in our college, and one of only a handful across the University of Montana. The Peterson's gift provides funds to provide a new faculty line for gifted education within the college, and by doing so, it's named after them."

The new faculty member will specialize in gifted education, an area of growing interest nationwide that has received less funding and attention than other kinds of special education. With a specialist in this discipline, UM will become the only university in the Northern Rockies to offer a comprehensive education in the field of personalized learning.

Knox said this gift is one of many that expresses support for the college of education on the UM campus.

"It really demonstrates the investment by community members like Suzanne and Dave in our college and our mission and in education in general," Knox said. "It truly does provide a platform from which the importance of the great work being done by professionals across our college and how the importance of our platform and how our work can be highlighted, and showed the impact our work has on children everywhere."

The Petersons, both UM alumni, owned and operated Quality Supply until 2011.

The gift was announced at a reception at UM’s Phyllis J. Washington Education Center on Sept. 12.

(Portions of this story courtesy of University Relations)

Communications and Outreach Officer Peter Knox

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