Peter J. Emanuel, Jr., author of Course Change, standing near the waterfront.

Peter J. Emanuel, Jr. has been an educator and musician in New London County, Connecticut, since 1978. From that time, he has been a piano teacher, accompanist, and pianist/vocalist.

Emanuel earned a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Connecticut in 1977 and a master of arts degree in history from American Public University in 2012. He began teaching at The Williams School, a private college preparatory school in New London, in 1991.

His initial position at the school was director of music, but his course load always included at least one history class.

In 2009, Emanuel began working on a master’s degree in history, with the hope of becoming a full-time member of the Williams history department. That aspiration became a reality in 2014 when his course load shifted completely to history.

From 2017 to 2020, it was his distinct honor to serve as history department head. He retired from The Williams School in 2020.