Willie Pearson, Professor of Sociology in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts School of History, Technology, and Society (HTS) was one of those honored recently by Sigma Xi, the international Scientific Research Society, during its 125th anniversary. 

A 20-year member of Sigma Xi, Pearson and other distinguished members of the Society were celebrated for their contributions to science.  Pearson specializes in the sociology of science and the sociology of the family.  He has served as a lecturer in Sigma Xi's Distinguished Lectureship Program; chaired the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (CEOSE) of the Executive Office of the National Science Foundation; and chaired the Committee for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In 2001, he was designated a lifetime National Associate of the National Academies. Currently, he serves on advisory committees in the Education and Human Resources Directorate (National Science Foundation), the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the National Academy of Sciences.