MEET OUR TEAM

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Dr. Yvette E. Pearson has over 25 years of experience in engineering education research, practice, and administration. She has a successful track record as principal/co-principal investigator on education research and implementation projects, most of which have been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and have supported equity and inclusion for persons from traditionally marginalized identities both in STEM education and the workforce. Her efforts have focused on a wide range of identities including underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons from low-income backgrounds, and women. A Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Dr. Pearson is recognized globally for her work that uniquely combines expertise in environmental engineering and inclusion, specifically as it relates to sustainability. As past chair of ASCE's Formal Engineering Education committee (a subcommittee of the Committee on Sustainability), she led initiatives to infuse engineering curricula with principles of sustainability and to promote strategies towards the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing targets aimed at ensuring equity for people in traditionally marginalized and/or vulnerable populations. Dr. Pearson also has expertise in assessment and evaluation, with several years of experience leading school-wide and program-level assessment efforts, conducting internal and external program evaluations, and leading studies of organizational climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As past vice chair of ASCE's Committee on Diversity and Inclusion she was part of the team that integrated DEI into the Code of Ethics, providing specific leadership for the principle that requires engineers to consider the diversity of the communities they serve and to include diverse perspectives in planning and performing their work.  In 2019, she was appointed as the inaugural chair of ASCE's board-level advisory committee, MOSAIC (Members of Society Advancing an Inclusive Culture), which is charged with leading the Society in all matters of DEI for the civil engineering profession. For three years, she served as a Program Director in the Division of Undergraduate Education at NSF, where she managed a portfolio of roughly $70M in awards. Among her numerous awards and honors are ABET's Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion, the Society of Women Engineers' Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, ASCE's Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award, the University of Texas Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the President's Medal, one of the highest honors in ASCE. Dr. Pearson holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in Chemistry from Southern University and A&M College, a Graduate Certificate in Educational Research Methodology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science from the University of New Orleans.  She  is a registered Professional Engineer in Louisiana and a Commissioner for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET.

Dr. Lisa M. Black has nearly 20 years of experience in social work, policy, and strategic initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  This includes roles that encompass administration, research, community engagement, and project management that span Pre-K through workforce.  In 2016, Dr. Black joined the staff of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the nation’s oldest engineering society, representing more than 150,000 members.  As Senior Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, she is responsible for developing, monitoring, and evaluating programs, activities, and products aimed at promoting full participation of people from underrepresented groups in the civil engineering profession. Through her work with ASCE’s Members of Society Advancing an Inclusive Culture (MOSAIC), she provides leadership in all matters of diversity and inclusion within the civil engineering community and implements programs designed to advance awareness and recognition of the civil engineering profession, promoting civil engineering as an inclusive discipline. Prior to joining ASCE, Dr. Black held leadership roles in the public education sector where she served as Special Assistant to the Superintendent for Race and Equity in Madison, Wisconsin and more recently as the Executive Director of Education and Training Programs for KLB & Associates, Inc.  Dr. Black holds a B.A. in Sociology from North Carolina State University and both an M.S. in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Michael D. Smith has over 25 years of experience in non-profit organizational operations and change management, governance, program development and implementation, strategic planning, and diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) advocacy, with a specialty in STEM fields. His evolved leadership style includes direct stakeholder engagement that spans pre-college through workforce, and nurtured client relationships with a foundation in collaborative networks. Through his passion for DEI, he has delivered and supported strategies that have elevated the DEI efforts within non-profits, academia and industry in their support of underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within and allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, and young girls and women. Michael, known by many as “Dr. Mike”, is the former Deputy Executive Director of The National GEM Consortium (GEM) where he was responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operational, financial, programmatic, event planning, external communications, strategic partnerships and board support services management of the organization, including management of the GEM Fellowship Program. Prior to GEM, Dr. Mike served as Interim Deputy Executive Director and Director of Programs for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), responsible for the strategic development, evaluation and implementation coordination of all student and technical professional programs at the chapter, regional and national levels. He has previous industry experience with DuPont Specialty Chemicals, Phillips 66 Natural Gas Company, and Amoco Production, along with academe experience at Texas A&M University, and service to numerous boards of directors of STEM-based organizations including the National Engineers Week Foundation (DiscoverE), National Girls Collaborative Project and The Carpentries. Michael holds a B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology (UM-Rolla) and doctorate in chemical engineering/ engineering management from Texas A&M University. Dr. Mike is proud to be a Lifetime member of NSBE, SHPE, AISES (Sequoyah Fellow), and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Casey Harris has a strong background primarily in quantitative research. Her seven years as a research assistant have included projects in psychology, prevention science, program evaluation, and criminology. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from California State University at Bakersfield, an M.Ed. in Prevention Science from University of Oregon, and an M.A. in Criminology, Law, and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  While earning her master’s degrees, Casey gained experience doing program evaluation focused on sexual assault and substance use prevention on a large college campus, research on victimization and in teaching courses in  law and society. During her time as an undergraduate, she gained experience as a research assistant and as a lab director.  Her background in measurement and evaluation allows Casey to merge her interests in research, measurement, and statistics with her passion for education, justice, and equity.  

Geraldine E. Jackson has more than five decades of experience in administration and management that spans small business enterprises, state and federal agencies, and big industry, including a Fortune 500 company. Her expertise includes training and professional development, team leadership, project management, and communications. Geraldine has developed, marketed, and led workshops; planned small- and large-scale events; developed and managed marketing and fundraising campaigns; and served on a team that managed communications for a statewide roll-out of new education initiatives. She has provided support in workshop planning, delivery, and documentation for The PEER Group since 2017. Geraldine holds a B.S. in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Dan Losapio has extensive experience  leading marketing, branding, and communications for small and large businesses, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and professional associations, creating intelligent design solutions in traditional and new media. He has expertise in all stages of design, in both digital and print formats, and using both Mac and PC platforms. His experience includes management and art direction, website design and information architecture, photography, video editing, and motion graphics. Dan holds a B.S. in Visual Communication/Photography from Towson University, a graduate certificate in UX (User Experience) from the University of Baltimore, and will complete the M.A. in Integrated Design in the spring of 2021.

Lisa Sargent holds a B.S. in Mass Communications - Advertising from Texas State University and an M.A. in Sociology from University of Houston. With experience in strategic communications, marketing, project management and evaluation, Lisa has worked on multi-issue initiatives in nonprofit, government, philanthropic, and academic sectors. She uses her diverse skillsets to cultivate and center long-term sustainable solutions to complex social problems. Lisa envisions and fights for a world where underserved communities have the capacity and resources they need to thrive.