Peter’s Abbreviated Bio:

Mayor Schwartzman is a Professor of Environmental Studies at Knox College (teaching there since 1998). He holds a bachelor’s in physics from Harvey Mudd College, a Masters in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia. He has lived in Galesburg since 1998 and has raised two daughters with Huong Hua in this wonderful city. He serves on the Board of the Knox Prairie Community Center (KPCK), which he co-founded in 2011, the Galesburg Youth Athletic Club (GYAC), the Knox County Area Partnership (KCAP), the Birth to Five (Region 33), Workforce Innovation (WIB), and volunteers in many other community-led projects.

Peter was first elected as Alderman/Councilor of Ward 5 in 2011 and served 10 years in that position before becoming Galesburg Mayor in 2021.

Board Affiliations:
Knox Prairie Community Kitchen (KPCK): WEB & FB    Galesburg Youth Athletic Club (GYAC): FB
Spurgeon Gardens Farm Camp: WEB & FB                      Birth to Five: FB
Knox County Area Partnership (KCAP): WEB & FB        Galesburg Tourism & Visitors Bureau: WEB
Chief Elected Officials (CEOs) Consortium of Western Illinois