Email: bypearso@ttu.edu 

Ph.D. University of Arizona 1998

JD University of San Diego  1988

Dr. Pearson is a modern U.S. historian who, after turning from the “dark side” of the practice of law, has taught American history for almost 30 years at four universities. He currently teaches the U.S. History surveys, and in the past has taught courses in historical methods and writing, the American West, and U.S. environmental history. He has won numerous awards for his teaching and scholarship including university-level awards for both teaching and intellectual contributions at West Texas A&M University where he was also recognized as the university’s Magister Optimus in 2009 by the WTAMU Faculty Senate.

The author of two books and the guest editor of Grand Canyon National Park at 100 published by the Journal of Arizona History, Dr. Pearson has published 32 scholarly articles and reviews and given dozens of conference presentations and guest lectures about western environmental history topics during his career.

“Dr. P” as his students call him, is an accomplished musician and he was once ranked 21st in the world in Forza Motorsports 6 driving E-class race cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He still plays classical/blues/rock piano/keys and rock & roll acoustic guitar; don’t be surprised if you see him playing live in a Lubbock venue sometime. He coached 25 youth soccer and baseball teams when his kids were growing up and has been known to haunt tiny high-mountain streams in pursuit of cutthroat and brown trout with light fly tackle in inclement weather.