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Biography of Dr. Esther M. Pearson

Dr. Esther M. Pearson is a Native American raised within the Native American and African American ethnicities and cultures. She is a mathematician, technologist and educator. Born in Warren, Ohio, she moved to Massachusetts in 1987 to work in the high-technology industry. She has over twenty-five years of experience in private industry and academia. Dr. Pearson has administered grass roots community organizations and outreach programs in the Boston and greater Boston areas for approximately 18 years. She is a known activist for education opportunities for people of color and women, and a strong believer in the use of education to uplift a people.

Dr. Pearson began volunteering in community services programs in 1987. At that time she began working with middle school students in Boston, Woburn, and Lowell Massachusetts. Working in cooperation with Middlesex Community College, Woburn Public Schools and Boston’s Massachusetts Pre-Engineering Program (MASSPEP), Dr. Pearson developed classes and mentoring techniques to encourage and motivate urban students to pursue Science, Engineering and Technology careers. On Saturday’s she volunteered teaching at many locations. The locations included Middlesex Community College (for a program geared to Lowell middle school students), Joyce Middle School in Woburn, Sister Clara Muhammad School in Boston, and the English High School in Boston.

Dr. Pearson worked with students on Saturdays providing for them academic opportunities during out-of-school hours. She worked specifically teaching students from Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, the Pacific Rim, and Puerto Rico from 1987 to 1991. Dr. Pearson taught hundreds of students on Saturday’s many of which went on as first generation college enrollees and later graduates. Dr. Pearson was so committed to youth and education that she worked with urban students from 8am – 1pm on Saturday’s. This was in addition to working at a high-tech company during the week. Some weeks she averaged 40-50 hour work weeks, and 10 hours on the weekends volunteer teaching.

During this time, Dr. Pearson developed the STEPS program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Pre-Engineering Program Studies). The STEPS program was accepted for implementation by Middlesex Community College, and the American Engineering Association. The STEPS program was acknowledged as a national model by the National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators (NAMEPA).

Dr. Pearson was asked to develop a technology Saturday program for incarcerated young women. She developed the program and administered it at the Rotenberg School, a secure facility in the city of Lowell, for young women ages 13 – 18. The program serviced young women from all over the state of Massachusetts for 5 years. This led her to see the need to work with young women to prevent them from school dropout, peer violence, and other abuses.

From Dr. Pearson’s experiences at the Rotenberg School, she developed in 1991, the Mary McLeod Bethune Institute (MMBI), a Saturday Academy for young women in Boston (www.e-mmbi.org). MMBI is hosted at Northeastern University and has serviced over 1000 African American and Latino girls in the last 14 years. I thrives today preparing Boston’s African American and Latino young women leaders.

The Mary McLeod Bethune Institute provides tutoring and mentoring in all academic subject areas. It has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau for its effectiveness. The program’s effectiveness is based on building self-esteem in young women and building their confidence to seek their dreams for a better life, community and nation through academic preparation. Starting in grade 3 through grade 12 the institute nurtures young women leaders.

Dr. Pearson is a leader whose proven dedication has resulted in recognitions that include: Women of Courage and Conviction – National Council of Negro Women Independent Spirit Award – Gannett Foundation Home Town Hero Award– Bank of America (Boston) Vision Award –St. John’s Baptist Church Woburn, MA. Guest speaker U.S. Department of Labor – Mentoring Young Women conference

Dr. Esther Pearson Accomplishments

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARDS

1987 Authored, Radio Communications book for precollege studies Authored, Physics in Electronic Design book for precollege studies Authored, Telegraphy for Beginners book for precollege studies

1988 Authored, Computer Design book for precollege studies Copyright for “STEPS: A Pre-College Model” Presenter -Columbia University - “Enriching Math and Science Through Collaboration” NAPD - Awarded NSF Model Program award for STEPS program City of Woburn Citation for STEPS program - MA. NJIT - Presenter - National Conference on PreCollege Studies University of Lowell - Distinguished Paper Award - “Math and Science Applications”

1989 Community 2000 Award - Middlesex Community College -Bedford, MA. National Society of Black Engineers -Feature Article Alumni Highlight-Career Paths

1990 STEPS program accepted by Harvard School of Public Health - Cambridge, MA. Digital Equipment Corporation -STEPS toward the Future recognition award Exploring Electronic Curriculum Published by Kraus Curriculum Dev. Independent Spirit Award - Gannet Foundation -WLVI -TV56 Boston Scientific Literacy paper published by Negro Journal of Education -Howard Univ. Women Pathfinders Award - St. John’s Baptist Church -Woburn, MA. Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps Citation for STEPS program Keynote Speaker - “Expanding Girls Horizons” conference -Colorado Dept. of Ed. Recognition Award -American Electronics Association of New England Increasing Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Math/Science - Cover Story

1991 Established Engineering and Environmental Education Program for Wheelabrator Co. Founded, Mary McLeod Bethune Institute for Young Women school Founding Officer for National Council of Negro Women, MA. - Vice President Runner Up for Kellog Leadership Award Community Service Award - Northeastern University, Boston STEPS Program -Cover story in Black Enterprise magazine

1992 Authored, Instructional Strategies for Science book Directed, Reading Literacy Program for Incarcerated Women, MCI -Framingham, MA. Directed, STEPS for Incarcerated Teenage Girls -Rotenberg School, Chelmsford, MA. AAUW Awardee for On-Hands Math/Science Activities for Young Women NAMEPA - Developed “Certification of Minority Engineering Programs” model NSTA - Presider at NSTA National Convention in Boston New England Board of Higher Education adopts STEPS program Pi Lambda Theta Education Honors Award Women of Courage and Conviction Award - National Council of Negro Women-MA. Digital Equipment Corporation - Community Service Award

1993 Speaking of People - Ebony Magazine - July Issue Founder of Girls-Only School - The Boston Herald - Sept 21st edition Special Guest - “Higher Ground” TV program - CBS Affiliate Engineering Inspirational Vision Award - ESRA Dr. Esther Pearson Day - November 27th, 1993 -Warren, Ohio Nellie Mae Horizon Award

1994 People Making a Difference Award - Middlesex Community College -Bedford, MA. Inducted Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, Ohio City Schools - Warren, OH Invitation from Brazil Government to participate in Technology Policy Committee Teen Mothers - Professional Day Recognition - Crittenton Hastings House

1995 “Top of the Class” TV guest - Answers for American Education National Council Negro Women - Recognition for founding Bethune Institute for Girls Cover Article -Black Issues in Higher Education - “Affirmative Action -Hesitant to Hire”

1996 Affirmative Action Keynote speech - St. John’s Baptist Church -MLK Ceremony Math Inquiry for Girls Grant - AAUW Research

1997 Guest Speaker AAUW Opening Session - Massachusetts Published - :Women’s Guide: To Overcoming Fear of Mathematics” -MSI Publication

1999 Co-Authored, Building Self-Esteem In Young Women- Morris Publishing Panelist, MIT Media Lab, WITI Boston Chapter Kickoff Meeting Panelist, BEEP, National Urban League National Conference, Atlanta, Georgia Seminar Presenter WITI National Conference Boston –Math and Science for Girls

2000 Panelist, Harvard University Minority Career Day speaker Nominated by NCNW, Headquarters for Annie E. Casey Fellow Selected as Annie E. Casey Fellow (candidate delayed acceptance) “Living Legend” award from Mary McLeod Bethune Institute Mary and Martha Ministry Award, St. John’s Baptist Church, Woburn, Massachusetts Keynote, Quality Week 2000, Brusells, Belgium

2001 Community Service Award –Alpha Kappa Alpha Black Executive Exchange Program Presenter, National Urban League, Stillman College, AL. US Dept of Labor – JETT*CON presenter – Opening Doors for Everyone to Technology MIMC Judge – Massachusetts Interactive MultiMedia Council

2002 Authored book, “Women In High Tech Visions of Change”

2003 Community Service Award – Region 1 Northeast –Blacks in Government Community Service Award – Northeasterners –African American Civic Organization

2004 Hometown Hero Award– Bank of America Mentor Award – US Dept of Labor Women’s Bureau

2005 Authored book, “Invisible Mathematic”

Internet References:

http://www.witi.com/center/witimuseum/womeninsciencet/1998/062398.shtml

http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/subject/bh1.html
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence: • Esther Pearson (U.S.A.: MA

Dr. Esther M. Pearson
Educator, Mathematician, Author
Education: Doctorate of Education Mathematics and Science - University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA.
Master of Science -Engineering Management - Western New England College, Springfield, MA.
Bachelor of Science - Applied Science: Engineering Technology - Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH.
Born: October 12, 1955
Birthplace: Warren, Ohio
Race: Native American -Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama
Category: Women, Mathematics, Technology