Sheila Pearson, associate professor of information systems, was named the Southern Arkansas University Honor Professor for 2024 at the spring faculty meeting on April 19, 2024. The highest accolade bestowed upon faculty at SAU, the award recognizes those who display excellence in teaching, research and service.
Pearson received the ceremonial University mace from Dr. Tim Schroeder.
“They went through the list of former Honor Professors, and I knew every single one of them,” Pearson said. “And to see my name added to that list? Let me just say, it was humbling.”
Sheila Pearson’s SAU career spans four decades and began when she was a high school student from Village, AR, taking summer courses as a junior and senior. In 1975, she started her freshman year with credits under her belt and a position as Dr. David Rankin’s student worker.
What impressed Pearson the most about SAU was the energized faculty. They had recently moved to Peace Hall from Jackson; electricity was in the air being a step up from where they were once located. Pearson recalled the teachers who shaped the department into what it is today: Dr. Scott Boaz, Mr. Louis Blanchard, Dr. Rankin, and Dr. Gayle White. Not only did these instructors provide students with a quality education, but they cared deeply.
“They wanted to know who you were, where you were from, and about your family,” Pearson said. “Dr. Anna Trexler had been so supportive of me–she was the first person, after my family, I wanted to tell that I was Honor professor.”
After obtaining her BSE in secondary education in 1978, Pearson worked for IT services as a secretary/operator. At the time, the University had a minicomputer, and Pearson credited David Keith and Dr. Al Strecker for teaching her about computers.
After joining the faculty, advising Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society and the Student Internship program, and serving on numerous committees over the years, Pearson has found that technology and landsca
pes may change but SAU’s mission remains steadfast.
“We should have said “SAU feels like home” a long time ago. That should have always been our motto. Everything we do is for the good of the students.”
Pearson received her MEd from SAU and her EdS from Northeast Louisiana University. When Pearson isn’t teaching, she can be found camping with her husband Ken and son Russell or assisting with media slides at Central Baptist Church in Magnolia.
