Anne Petersen is Research Professor (Adjunct), University of Michigan, in two units. She is Founder/President of Global Philanthropy Alliance, a foundation making grants in Africa. Petersen held administrative and faculty roles at Stanford University, University of Minnesota, Penn State University, and University of Chicago. She was Senior Vice President of Programs, WK Kellogg Foundation and US President-nominated/Senate-confirmed National Science Foundation Deputy Director/COO.

Petersen has authored 15 books and over 350 articles, currently emphasizing global science policy and philanthropy, with continuing emphases on adolescence/youth development and evaluation/research methods. Her honors include election to the National Academy of Medicine (NASEM: National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine), Fellowships in several scientific societies including AAAS, ISSBD, and APA (three divisions). She was also a founding Fellow of APS. She co-founded the Society of Research on Adolescence and was President of several scientific societies. Petersen recently chaired NASEM Policy & Global Affairs Divisional Committee and the NASEM EnCoRe Committee, and she is key faculty for two fellowship programs in Africa, among other US/global voluntary boards/committees. She is a member of the Templeton World Charity Foundation Board of Directors.