Dr. Yvette E. Pearson is Founder and Principal Consultant of The PEER Group, a consulting company that supports clients in advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in STEM education and practice. A former Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at one of the fastest growing universities in the U.S., Pearson has served in several faculty and administrative roles and is recognized globally for nearly 30 years in higher education, particularly for her work in the areas of sustainability, access, and opportunity for individuals from minoritized and marginalized identities. Her university-based and consulting efforts have led to over $40M in funding for projects to support initiatives in STEM and she has been instrumental in leading changes to policies and practices of global engineering organizations.Pearson is a registered Professional Engineer, an ENVISION® Sustainability Professional, and a Commissioner on ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission. A Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), she has been recognized with other prestigious national and international honors such as 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, and ASCE’s President’s Medal, one of the highest honors awarded in this global organization of over 150,000 members. Her book - Making a Difference: How Being Your Best Self Can Influence, Inspire, and Impel Change - chronicles her journey and her work’s focus on “making sure other ‘Yvettes’ don’t fall through the cracks.” Her podcast, ENGINEERING CHANGE, has audiences in over 80 countries on six continents.Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 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.