MEET OUR TEAM
Yvette E. Pearson, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE - Founder and Principal Consultant
Dr. Yvette E. Pearson has 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 focused on engagement of persons from traditionally marginalized identities both in STEM education and the workforce . Her efforts have focused on a wide range of identities including underrepresented 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 authored what is now Canon 8 of ASCE's 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, ASCE's Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award, and the University of Texas Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching. 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.
Lisa M. Black, Ph.D. - Qualitative Research Specialist
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.
Casey Harris, M.Ed. - Research Assistant
Casey Harris has a strong background primarily in quantitative research. Her six 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 is currently pursuing both an M.Ed. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment and a Ph.D. in Criminology, Law, and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a Ph.D. student, Casey conducts research concerning victimization and teaches discussion sections of Law and Society. While earning her master’s degree, Casey gained experience doing program evaluation focused on sexual assault and substance use prevention on a large college campus. 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.