Peter Nathaniel Stearns is a distinguished historian and professor at George Mason University, where he served as provost from January 1, 2000, to July 2014. He was previously the chair of the Department of History and Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, now known as the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Stearns founded and edited the Journal of Social History and has developed a pioneering approach to teaching World History. He has contributed significantly to the field through his editorial work and contributions to the Routledge series, Themes in World History. Peter Stearns is renowned for his work on the nature and impact of the industrial revolution and his exploration of new topics, particularly in the history of emotions. He remains active in historical groups, such as the American Historical Association, the Society for French Historical Studies, the Social Science History Association, and the International Society for Research on Emotion.