President Obama has appointed Willie Pearson, Professor of Sociology in the School of History, Technology, and Society to serve on the newly reestablished Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The President announced the reestablishment of the HBCU Board of Advisors February 26th, 2010. The Board will provide input to the President and the Secretary of Education on methods, programs, and strategies to strengthen HBCUs. Pearson will be one of the eleven members appointed to serve on the board.

Pearson specializes in sociology of science and sociology of the family, with a focus on broadening participation in science and engineering and the careers of African-American PhD scientists. He has previously served in Washington as Chairman of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Committee for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy and the National Science Foundation Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering.

It is expected that Pearson will be sworn in to the appointment this spring.