Willie Pearson

Dr. Willie Pearson, Jr. is a Regents Professor in the School of History and Sociology at Georgia Institute of Technology, part of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. He specializes in the sociology of science and technology, sociology of the family, and science policy. Previously, he held the Wake Forest Professorship at Wake Forest University and served as an adjunct in Medical Education at their School of Medicine. His research focuses on underrepresented minorities in STEM, gender equity, and international education disparities. Pearson has held postdoctoral fellowships at the Educational Testing Service and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

His academic accolades include the 1993 Southern Illinois University Alumni Achievement Award, a lifetime appointment as a National Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2001), and AAAS Fellow designation (2005). Financial support for his work has come from major organizations including the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Sloan Foundation.

Research contributions span policy advocacy, educational equity, and minority representation. Notable projects include analyzing the international STEM achievement gap and documenting African American chemists' career experiences. Pearson has served on high-level committees such as the Congressional CEOSE and AAAS's Committee for Science, Engineering and Public Policy. He currently contributes to Georgia Tech's Technology Policy and Assessment Center.