Jonsson School Associate Dean Named to ABET Executive Committee
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas now has a top executive committee member of ABET, the premier quality assurance organization for engineering, engineering technology, computing and applied and natural sciences programs across the globe. Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, who serves as associate dean for effectiveness and accountability in the Jonsson School and as associate dean for academic affairs and strategic initiatives in the UT Dallas School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, was recently named an executive committee (ex-com) member-at-large of ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC).
“The Jonsson School is proud of Dr. Yvette Pearson and her new role in which she will continue sharing her leadership, wisdom and guidance with the greater international community of engineering and computer science professionals,” said Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Jonsson School, Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair and professor of systems engineering. “The Jonsson School and our communities are better off because of her leadership and service.”
The ABET EAC executive committee includes 18 members-at-large, as well as four officers, a public member and a board liaison. When she begins her role as an ex-com member in July 2025, Pearson will be part of the governing body that makes recommendations to the board of delegates for changes to criteria, policies and procedures on behalf of the EAC. She will also help provide quality assurance for accreditation actions.
“This new role provides a different seat at the table where the decisions are made,” Pearson said. Since 2020, she has represented the American Society of Civil Engineers as an EAC commissioner.
When asked how being part of ABET supports her role in the Jonsson School, she added, “We work with programs and institutions literally across the globe. Learning about the ways different institutions approach their programs opens our minds to new possibilities.”
“The Jonsson School is proud of Dr. Yvette Pearson and her new role in which she will continue sharing her leadership, wisdom and guidance with the greater international community of engineering and computer science professionals. The Jonsson School and our communities are better off because of her leadership and service.”
— Dr. Stephanie G. Adams
Dean of the Jonsson School, Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair
and professor of systems engineering
ABET-accredits more than 4,700 programs at more than 930 colleges and universities in 42 countries, ensuring that each program meets quality standards that are informed by professional practice so that students are prepared to enter the STEM workforce. State engineering licensure such as the Professional Engineer (PE) credential often requires applicants to complete an ABET accredited program or will require additional work experience prior to licensure if the program is not accredited.
Program accreditation is distinct from institutional accreditation which is undertaken at the University level, and each program must apply for accreditation separately according to each discipline’s specific requirements.
One major function of the EAC is establishing criteria for gauging program effectiveness that apply to a broad range of disciplines. The eight criteria include students, program educational objectives, student outcomes, continuous improvement, curriculum, faculty, facilities and institutional support.
“Program quality and continuous improvement are not about measuring one program against another,” Pearson said. “The accreditation process assures that, at a minimum, programs meet specific criteria and are making progress.”
Pearson also provides insight and increased interdisciplinary connections at the University through her work across both the Jonsson School and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Specifically, she promotes the use of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement, and she is an advocate for advancing sustainability and creating convergent programs across the University. In addition to Pearson, two other Jonsson School leaders, Dr. Nandika D’Souza, associate dean of strategic initiatives, and Dr. Joshua Summers, interim associate dean of undergraduate education, are also serving in ABET roles as a program evaluator and as an EAC commissioner, respectively.
Pearson has an extensive professional record. She previously served as vice president for campus resources and support at UT Dallas and prior to that as vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. As a registered professional engineer and fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Pearson has focused on areas including sustainability, access and opportunity. She received ABET’s Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion, ASCE’s Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award, the Society of Women Engineers’ Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, the University of Texas Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and the ASCE’s President’s Medal.
Pearson holds a BS in civil engineering and an MS in chemistry from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a graduate certificate in educational research methodology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a PhD in engineering and applied science from the University of New Orleans.