Bart Peterson

2006 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT

BA 1980, Political Science

Bart Peterson is Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communication at Eli Lilly.  He joined Lilly in this role in June 2009. Previously, he was managing director at Strategic Capital Partners from June 2008 to June 2009.

During spring 2008, Peterson was a fellow with the Institute of Politics of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. During the 2008-2009 school year, he was a distinguished visiting professor of public policy at Ball State. He continues as a fellow with the University's Bowen Center for Public Affairs.

From 2000 to 2007, Peterson served two terms as mayor of Indianapolis. He was responsible for starting 16 charter schools and won Harvard's Innovations in American Government Award for the initiative in 2006. He was also instrumental in the business expansions of FedEx, Rolls Royce, and WellPoint in Indianapolis, and the construction and development of projects such as Lucas Oil Stadium, the Conrad Hotel, Simon Property Group's world headquarters, the new Indianapolis Airport terminal, and the future Indiana Convention Center expansion and J.W. Marriott Hotel.  He was president of the National League of Cities in 2007 and led the creation of BioCrossroads earlier in his administration.

Prior to running for office, Peterson served as a member of Indiana Governor Evan Bayh's leadership team, first as his aide for environmental affairs and later as chief of staff, and was an attorney with Ice Miller. He also served as president of Precedent Companies, Inc., his family's diversified real estate firm.

Peterson is board chair of The Mind Trust, a nonprofit organization promoting entrepreneurship in education. He is also a board member of the Regenstrief Foundation, National Alliance for Pubic Charter Schools, Christian Theological Seminary, and the University of Indianapolis.