In the last five years, DePaul Prep has nearly doubled in size, moved to a new campus, and grown in almost every aspect. Not only has the number of students increased, but the variety of activities they can participate in has as well. With the addition of new clubs, honor societies, and academic teams, students can take on just about every interest. The facilitation of all of these activities takes a lot of hard work and organization, but one specific individual manages to do just that. 

Christopher Petersen has worked at DePaul Prep for five years as Dean of Student Activities and Student Life. “I actually have a tricky title. I sometimes shorten it to the Dean of Student Life,” Petersen clarifies. 

When describing what Petersen’s main tasks are at DePaul Prep, there is no simple answer. “It’s very vast, because ‘student activities’ looks and takes on many different roles.”

From safety patrol in the parking lot to serving on leadership committees, it seems as though Petersen takes on everything in between. Graduation coordination, keeping traick of clubs, lunch supervision, student government moderation, announcements, and experiential learning trip coordination are just examples of the tasks he completes on a daily basis.

“We do announcements everyday. I have meetings. I do a lot of planning. It literally changes everyday, in a good way.”

Not only does Petersen get an impressive amount done daily. He also collaborates with nearly every member of the DePaul Prep community. 

“We have a new assistant director, Ms.Dollak. I work a lot with Coach Mallette [DEI Director]. I work a lot with Ms.Merkl-Deutsch [Director of Mission & Ministry]. I work a lot with all of the club moderators, because they are a part of the process. A lot with the deans. The assistant principals. Dr. Stanton-Anderson [Principal]. Ms. Dempsey [President]. The marketing. Really everybody, because I need everybody to do my job. I need everyone’s help.”

As Dean of Student Life, Petersen has the task of giving students the ability to become involved in their surroundings. 

“My goal for every student is that they don’t walk out of here at 3 o’clock everyday, and that they have something to do here.”

Social Studies teacher and Assistant Dean Michael Rabideau proves Petersen is meeting that goal. “It is a huge challenge trying to grow traditions and a culture that brings students together. In my experience working with him, Mr. Petersen has been sort of integral in creating that part of a high school experience for our students.”

Petersen takes this responsibility to heart and prioritizes the wellbeing of students in his work. “I mean I am here for the kids. This is my sixteenth year in education. If I didn’t like students and the interactions with them, I wouldn’t be here.”

This dedication is shown deeply by his effort to connect with students around him. “I get really mad at myself when I don’t remember a student’s name,” Petersen reveals. 

This strive for relationships comes from Petersen’s own past. 

“I had a really good high school experience. Some of my best friends still today are my friends from high school, and I just remember that feeling. And that’s the feeling I strive to provide for all the students in whatever way that I can.”

Marinda Kennedy, Director of Counseling, showcases that this positive energy is being created. “Mr. P brings the fun. The way he impacts the DePaul Prep community is by making sure that we stay a community, connected, and organized,” she added.

Petersen recalls a time where achieving his goal seemed extremely difficult. “Covid really put a halt to all student activities, because we couldn’t gather and had to shift to stuff online.”

However, like many other members of the DePaul Prep community, Petersen found a way to adjust to the unique circumstances of 2020. “I mean if you think about it, my job is student activities. If there weren’t any student activities, I didn’t have anything to do, so I had to come up with ways to engage students in new ways. Social media was a big outlet that we used.”

Social media and other forms of engagement Petersen developed during that challenging time have had a lasting impact. Today, the effects of his hard work are present in the lives of almost every individual in the DePaul Prep community. 

Junior Cat Gonzalez describes the positive impact Petersen’s work has had on her own personal high school experience. 

“I think Mr. P provides an inclusive and fun environment that anyone can find a place in. Seeing him and saying hi to him in the halls, it’s almost like he knows everyone.”

On the topic of student activities, Gonzalez added, “Student activities make me feel a part of our community and like I have a purpose in bettering DePaul Prep.”

Clearly, Petersen and his hard work as Dean of Student Life are widely recognized. Positive student activities as an outcome of his work is a trend that will continue. 

Petersen reassures, “I am here to provide experiences so that kids can feel connected and a part of a family. To make DePaul Prep a home for now and for years to come.”