Dr. Jon Pedersen serves as the inaugural dean of the Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences and as a professor in Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences.

Prior to joining OSU, Pedersen served 5 years as dean of the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. He has more than 33 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator, including appointments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Oklahoma, East Carolina University and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

As a leader, Pedersen has focused on promoting interdisciplinary collaborations to advance school-university-community partnerships. He has helped to create university-wide coalitions and collaborations that partner with challenges that face communities and leverage the assets and treasures of institutions of higher education to develop whole child/whole community transformation.

Pedersen has authored over one hundred publications, most of which focus on K-12 science teaching and/or the incorporation of community issues into the extant curriculum. He has published or edited 16 books, been primary and co-primary investigator of numerous grants (over $10 million in funded activities) and supported projects on K-12 science curricula development, science in-service education, middle level education and international education. His interest in the application of science knowledge as it pertains to relevant community issues is greatly influenced by his foundation in the agricultural sciences and his early years growing up in rural Nebraska. 

Pedersen holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction (emphasis on science education), a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a bachelor's in agriculture-animal nutrition, all from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Pedersen is very active in several professional organizations, including: the National Science Teachers Association (Past Affiliate Representative to the Board), National Association for Research in Science Teaching , Association for Science Teacher Education (Past President), American Association for Teacher Education (Past Member Government Relations Comm.), Organization of Institutional Affiliates, CPED (Past Member of the Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctorate, Board of Directors/Secretary), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the National Network for Educational Renewal (Executive Chair) and the National Science Olympiad (Chair of the Board).