Byron E. Pearson

Byron E. Pearson is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University, where he specializes in Modern U.S. History. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience across four universities, Dr. Pearson has earned recognition for his academic contributions, including university-level awards for both teaching and intellectual achievements at West Texas A&M University, where he was honored as Magister Optimus in 2009.

• Ph.D., University of Arizona (1998)
• J.D., University of San Diego (1988)

His research focuses on the American West, U.S. Environmental History, and Historical Methods and Writing. Dr. Pearson has authored two books, guest-edited Grand Canyon National Park at 100 for the Journal of Arizona History, and published 32 scholarly articles and reviews on western environmental history topics. He has also delivered dozens of conference presentations and guest lectures in this field.

• University-level award for teaching at West Texas A&M University
• University-level award for intellectual contributions at West Texas A&M University
• Magister Optimus at West Texas A&M University in 2009

Outside academia, Dr. Pearson is a skilled musician, having ranked 21st globally in Forza Motorsports 6, and continues to play classical, blues, and rock piano, as well as acoustic guitar. He previously coached 25 youth soccer and baseball teams and enjoys fly fishing in remote high-mountain streams for cutthroat and brown trout.