Meet our authors

Omar Santos is a leading figure in the Cybersecurity world. He first discovered the subject while serving in the US Marine Corps in the mid 1990s, where he helped protect critical infrastructure and provided secure communications between troops. Today, Omar is Principal Engineer at Cisco’s Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT). He uses all his experience to help junior team members learn and is called upon to investigate serious security vulnerabilities. Omar also leads several industry-defining groups and is the author of over 20 books as well as numerous video titles and online courses.

The world of Cybersecurity

It’s a vast subject area, with several subsections and divisions – ethical hacking, incident response, digital forensics, malware analysis, network security, cloud security, and DevSecOps are just a few. So how does Omar help people understand what can be very complex topics? “My biggest advice is to pick the concentration that you are most passionate about,” says Omar. ”Don’t try to learn everything at once! You can apply different security concepts in your daily work (whether you are a software developer or a project manager). Combine reading with hands-on practice all the time!”. It’s an ideology that Omar shares with Pearson as we collaborate on resources and learning seminars.

So it’s clear that keeping up with the latest information and continually learning are key to success as a Cybersecurity operative. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic Omar was called on to offer his guidance on a new wave of attacks – threats were coming in that targeted remote workers and learners, so experts like Omar had to act fast to educate the wider community. “Many different things changed forever after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Omar says. “The way we work remotely has changed. Organizations should continue to update their policies and processes to ensure resiliency in the next few years.”

The future of Cybersecurity

Staying on top of the latest threats means being able to educate people at speed and give them access to the right resources. It’s something Pearson has worked on with Omar for many years. From digital textbooks to online learning courses, we’ve created a clear way to get new information out there – something that will prove crucial as technology evolves even more. “We are using AI and machine learning to automate tasks, process data, and make decisions faster,” explains Omar. “However, we will also face new threats against these systems. The industry will continue to focus on cyber warfare threats, as the adversaries are becoming more sophisticated and with significantly more resources than in past years.”

Dr Salge-Blake is an acclaimed author, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), professor, and award-winning podcaster. After starting out on a completely different career path, she soon realised her passion was in the world of nutrition. And once she’d said goodbye to her day job and revolutionised her eating habits, the road was clear for Dr Salge-Blake to become a fully qualified RDN and educator. Today, having taught at Boston University for over 25 years and is one of the leading figures on the subject with several teaching and professional awards and published works under her belt.

Seeing the bigger picture

Dr Salge-Blake’s goal has always been to help others. Her critically acclaimed educational texts such as Nutrition & You and Nutrition: From Science to You have inspired many learners across the world. It’s no wonder she was given the Media Excellence Award from the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics in 2020. “My passion is to communicate, sound, science-based information to the consumer to help them more easily make positive changes in their life,” says Dr Salge-Blake. She’s also received the Whitney Powers Excellence in Teaching Award, twice, from Boston University.

But for all the accolades, it’s the notes and emails she gets from past students that really inspire her. “I wrote Nutrition & You to change the lives of students,” says the professor. “I’ve received so many messages from past learners that attest that my textbook and nutrition class changed their lives. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The professor knows that education is one of the key tools to help others manage their diet and lifestyle – and to improve long-term health. Dr Salge-Blake says, “as nutrition educators and professionals, we need to stay true to the science and teach students how to critically think so that they don’t fall prey to dangerous nutrition misinformation that’s now rampant, especially on social media.” Part of that education comes from her vast experience. From

the professor’s work in her private practice to writing countless articles on healthy eating and doing over 2,000 media interviews on nutrition and health – she is undeniably an expert in her field.

Education through personalised learning

For Dr Salge-Blake the ability to help each student learn in their own way is invaluable – it’s something she has worked on with Pearsonsince the launch of her first textbook.. She truly believes in bespoke learning strategies. “Pearson has embraced the use of digital, educational technology to meet the learner where they are, as well as helping professors integrate this technology seamlessly in the classroom,” says the professor. “It’s a marriage made in heaven.”

Dr. Norman-McKay is a scientist, full-time professor and successful author. With a baccalaureate degree in microbiology and cell science, and a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology she has a vast amount of knowledge. And for the past 17 years, the professor has shared her understanding with undergraduate health students at Florida State College. She was recently recognised by peers and students with the Outstanding Faculty Award.
 
Always ask questions

There’s never been a time in Dr. Norman-McKay’s life where science hasn’t been her focus. From a young age she was always questioning and always curious about the biological world. One of her first experiments (aged 7) was to see how long it took for tadpoles to transform into frogs. “I could’ve gone to the library to find the answer, but my grandmother said I should try to figure it out for myself,” recalls the professor. “I placed a bucket with at least fifty tadpoles inside my grandmother’s house. She was really surprised to come home to a room full of tiny frogs!” 
 
The professor’s curious nature has been present throughout her whole career – from her experiences as an undergraduate researcher to her PhD and beyond. Today, Dr. Norman-McKay is interested in the most pressing areas of microbiology – subjects like emerging infectious diseases, rapid diagnostics, and new vaccines. And she knows how important education and new ways of learning are to these growing fields, as it will help to shape future healthcare workers and their crucial work.

 
We share the professor’s belief that learners today have access to more information than ever before. It gives students the chance to understand a broad range of perspectives and enhances their understanding of the biological world – both crucial to solving some of the most complicated problems humanity faces. “The increased availability of interdisciplinary programs is a great asset for today’s students,” says the professor. “It represents an opportunity to bridge gaps in theory and application to come up with unique solutions.” 
 
Dr Norman-McKay and Pearson

Over the years, Pearson has collaborated with the professor on educational texts, resources and talks. In fact, Dr Norman-McKay told us one of her proudest moments was holding her published textbook for the first time. “Pearson is a company that is dedicated to developing the best educational products on the market,” says Dr Norman-McKay. It’s a design and development process in which we consult the professor and her wider peers to help create the best resources we can. “I see my work with Pearson as a partnership toward transformative teaching and learning,” she continues. “As a microbiology author I appreciate Pearson’s support of my vision to bring employable training to the healthcare team of tomorrow.”

Glenn Hubbard is dean emeritus and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School. Hubbard received his BA and BS degrees summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida and also holds AM and PhD degrees in economics from Harvard University.  

In addition to writing more than 100 scholarly articles in economics and finance, Glenn is the author of three popular textbooks, as well as co-author of The Aid Trap: Hard Truths About Ending Poverty, Balance: The Economics of Great Powers From Ancient Rome to Modern America, and Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Five Steps to a Better Health Care System.  His commentaries appear in Business Week, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, Nikkei, and the Daily Yomiuri, as well as on television and radio.

From 2001 until 2003, he was chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers.  In the corporate sector, he is on the boards of ADP, BlackRock Fixed Income Funds, and MetLife (where he is chair).

Hubbard is co-chair of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation; he is a past chair of the Economic Club of New York and a past co-chair of the Study Group on Corporate Boards.

Glenn and his family live in New York.

Elayn Martin-Gay has taught math for over 25 years. In that time she’s been given multiple teaching awards, created innovative student-friendly resources, and developed a series of highly acclaimed videos which form the basis of her arithmetic and algebra texts. When paired with MyLab Math - Pearson's digital learning platform that's designed to personalize learning - her best-selling content is unrivaled in its ability to help every student succeed.

Math is everywhere

“As far back as I can remember, math was a subject that consisted of its own language and proven rules,” explains the professor. “I could always depend on these rules to allow for a basic manipulation of expressions and equations.” From an early age, Professor Martin-Gay knew how important math was to a whole world of different topics. From science and physics to technology and engineering. “How could I not be inspired to learn and share more about this important language?” she explains. And after an impressive education it was no surprise that the professor went on to start an award-winning career as an instructor. “My proudest professional achievement was being given the “Favorite Professor” award at the University of New Orleans,” she says. “This award is given once a year to a faculty member and requires extensive recommendations from students – that’s why it meant so much to me.”

Professor Martin-Gay sees the future of math as one that will experience great change. She cites a lack of basic knowledge of mathematics as a key blocker for most students, but especially those who have chosen to major in STEM fields. And she backs that up with the claim that there is an accepted and encouraged misnomer that “everyone is not a math person.” The professor explains further: “As we focus on solving this society-accepted theme and start changing “math is hard and not for everyone’ to ‘math is for everyone who chooses it’, the future will be exciting.”

Our work together

Pearson has collaborated on many projects with Professor Martin-Gay – with each one we’ve learned how to get the best out of one another. Today, our process is one of improvement. We work together to make sure each new project or iteration moves this important subject further. “The value of our products and partnership is found embedded in the core of our belief system, especially during research and delivery.” adds the professor. “This belief system includes the importance of communication, respect and trust, and understanding and compromising while working with others in varied fields and positions. We know that the quality of our products is a reflection of the quality of our company and employees.”

Professor Miller-Nobles is widely regarded as a leader in the field of accounting. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Texas A&M University, she’s also working on a doctorate in Adult Education too. And her professional experience is just as impressive, having tax experience at Deloitte Tax LLP and Sample & Bailey. She puts all this experience into her classes and the varied educational texts she’s authored – these include Horngren's Accounting Textbook, which is one of Pearson’s most popular accounting resources.

Always a problem solver

As a student Professor Miller-Nobles was always interested in working out complex issues. She soon found that the world of accounting was one where her ability to problem solve could shine. ”I quickly realized that in order to solve business problems I needed to understand the language of business – which is accounting,” says the Professor. “As an accountant, I solve my clients’ problems whether that’s an issue they have with the IRS or helping a new business owner understand how to structure their business.” It’s an approach the professor brings to the classroom too. She advises and mentors students to help them along their educational pathways and meet their goals.

For Professor Miller-Nobles, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the teaching dynamic. Not one to shy away from new ways of working, the professor sees all these changes as huge opportunities for higher education. “Do students all need to be in the same room to learn?” She asks. “Can a community be created in an online learning environment? How does the ability to “Zoom” anyone into a classroom provide opportunities for students to hear diverse perspectives and thoughts? It’s a lot to think about and consider.” Creating online classrooms that are engaging and still take advantage of all the technology that’s on offer, is still an ongoing process. For Professor Miller-Nobles, it’s going to shape the future of education.

On the subject of student welfare she’s even more emphatic. “Take care of yourself. I don’t think we say it enough to our students in higher education,” she says. “Remind yourself daily what a special, wonderful, unique human being you are. Believe in your success.”

Pearson and Professor Miller-Nobles

As one of our leading authors on accounting, the content we produce with the professor is enjoyed by students across the globe. The aim of our collaboration is always to help students further their careers and take their knowledge to the next level. It’s why we work together to create resources that support the learner and the faculty member. That means adding curriculum and teaching strategies that come from experience, which only industry experts like Professor Miller-Nobles can offer. “I have one goal,” concludes the professor. “To create successful learning experiences in every accounting classroom!”

Neil Lewis Jr. is a rising star in the world of social psychology and the behavioral sciences. His academic achievements include a BA in economics and psychology from Cornell University, and an MS and PhD in social psychology from the University of Michigan. The quality of Neil’s research has been widely recognised too. In 2019 he was given the Rising Star Award by the Association for Psychological Science. And in 2020 he was given the SAGE Young Scholar Award by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Neil currently works as a behavioral, intervention, and meta-scientist at Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medicine, where he is an assistant professor.

Addressing social inequality

As a behavioural scientist, Neil has always been interested in equality issues within society. “After dipping my toes in a few different disciplines, I found my home in social psychology,” he says. “I was drawn to the approach of studying people to understand how a variety of factors combine to influence the behaviors and outcomes we observe in the world.” Neil’s research is always underpinned by the need to address some of the dispiriting issues that persist in the world and make progress in each.

“The world is changing rapidly, and will likely continue to change for the foreseeable future,” adds Neil. “Surviving – and thriving – in a rapidly changing world requires continuous learning, and that is just one of the many reasons I believe education is so important.”

When it comes to his own teaching, Neil is always available to offer advice to his students. He invites learners to enter a new subject with an open mind and a willingness to question what they think they know. “I think that is one of the most fascinating and fun things about my field,” comments Neil. “We spend so much of life walking around with lay theories about ourselves and other people, and in this field we actually get to put some of those theories to the test—we try to figure out why is it that we think and act in the ways that we do. That process can be gratifying if you are open to asking the questions and interrogating them.”

COVID 19 widened the gaps

According to Neil, the pandemic has shown just how fractured society can be. Pre-existing inequalities in health, education and the economy have all been exacerbated. Neil explains: “Those who were doing well before got better off in some ways. And those who were not doing well to begin with ended up much worse-off. It highlights the need to do more to build a better social safety to care for the most vulnerable.”

Professor Tro has worked as a chemistry professor for over 30 years. His academic credentials include a PhD from Stanford University and postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. He’s an expert in his subject area, having written many world-class textbooks on the fundamentals of chemistry and all its different forms. He’s also revered by students who voted him Teacher of the Year in 1994 and again in 2001.  

Chemistry and education 

Professor Tro was drawn to the world of chemistry because he wanted to understand more about the structure of molecules and atoms. “It’s a triumph of the human intellect that we’ve been able to make this connection,” he says. “Especially when you consider how small atoms actually are – the ink in the period at the end of this sentence contains more than a quadrillion (1015) atoms”.  

When it comes to teaching, the professor believes in the power of education. He’s an advocate for two widely recognised educational theories – the Spacing Effect (the idea that spreading out one’s learning over time helps with long term retention) and the Retrieval Effect (the idea that retrieval from memory is more effective than passive studying for learning). And with the growth of digital and online learning methods, he sees the future of education as an ever-evolving thing. “The content delivery technologies spearheaded by Pearson allow instructors to easily implement these methodologies,” says the professor. “I am most excited about how we can continue to use technology to make research-proven educational pedagogy easy to implement – even in the largest of classes.”   

The professor’s work has given him a deeper understanding of the power of education. He sees it as having two main goals – to give learners an appreciation of how extraordinary the world is, and also to make them more informed citizens. “Education makes the student a deeper and richer person and makes their country and the world a better place to live,” he says. “These reasons have been the foundation of education from the very beginnings of civilization and continue to be the reason that education is so important.”      

Teaching today 

The recent pandemic has revolutionised the way the classroom works. Online sessions, remote seminars and interactive lessons have all become the norm. But for Professor Tro, the aim is still to inspire students through learning – to him, education is a key to a better life. “We live in a world filled with challenges such as disease, racial tension, environmental degradation, and political polarization,” he says. “The biggest opportunity for learners and higher education is to solve these problems.”    

Arts and Sciences and a former president of the Organization of American Historians and of the Southern Historical Association. She has a BA, MA and PhD, and has taught at universities across the US, including Northwestern University, Purdue University, and South Carolina State University . Professor Hine is also the author/co-author of 15 books which have helped define critical thinking around the African-American experience, including Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia.

Advancing the field of AfricanAmerican history

Professor Hine has made a huge contribution to the advancement of African-American history, particularly of African-American women. “It is an area of historical interest that simply did not exist 50 years ago,” she says.

“It has also been rewarding to have helped so many undergraduate and graduate students become historians. Many former students have become superb teachers and scholars. I am exceedingly proud of them and their contributions to understanding our past.”

The professor has been recognised for her work by many international institutions. Perhaps her most stunning achievement was being honoured with the National Humanities Medal, presented to her by President Barack Obama in 2014.

For Professor Hine, one of her biggest challenges is to educate future generations of historians. She believes that too many people dismiss the study of history as boring, where in fact it’s one of the richest fields you can learn. “We have an obligation and responsibility to stimulate an interest in history,” states Professor Hine.

The importance of The African American Odyssey

More than 20 years ago, Professor Hine co-authored one of the most important texts on African-American history. On the book’s production and release, the professor says: “Pearson did an outstanding job of creating an attractive, readable, and engaging presentation of some of the most important people and events in American history. The book has improved and stood the test of time.”

It’s relevance and impact has certainly lasted. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, the global outrage sparked greater interest in the African-American past. “His killing generated intense interest in the turbulent and difficult relationships people of African descent have had for centuries in American society,” she says. “Many people have suddenly become aware of “hidden” events in the past. One example would be the recent observance of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Oklahoma Massacre in 1921. Many people admitted that they had never heard of it – some complained that knowledge of this tragedy had been kept from them. But the destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood community has been in The African American Odyssey since its first edition in 2000."

Dr Neff is an accomplished scientist who completed his Biology PHD at Stanford University in 1999. Before joining the University of Colorado Boulder in 2003, he spent several years in academic research and has also written over 100 scientific publications. His work includes A Changing Planet – a widely regarded environmental text, which is available as an interactive programme on our Revel platform. 

An eye on the future 

Early in his career, Dr Neff’s goal was to connect physical science and his broader interests in the environment. And when he discovered the emerging field of biogeochemistry, he didn’t look back. “It brought together biology, geology, and chemistry into a new cross-disciplinary research area, focusing on emerging global environmental problems,” he says. “I knew I had found an exciting path for my career”. Today, Dr Neff has his sights on innovation. He’s passionate about any new approaches that incorporate technology into environmental studies. He’s also an advocate for new learning methods and revolutionising the way the classroom works. 

Dr Neff is no stranger to the evolving educational landscape. As he says, “textbooks have changed a lot in the past 20 years – from a printed book used as reference and added depth for classroom instruction to, in many cases, digital platforms that are designed to help instructors teach differently and to help students learn more efficiently”. 

The professor has also said that these new educational products offer more support for innovative student-centered teaching – they provide learners with a much broader range of tools to help them master their subject. It’s an important point when you also consider how the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged online learning. “I predict that we will see much more flexible and targeted learning opportunities (including more online offerings) in the coming years,” says Dr Neff. “For universities, this is a chance to rethink educational models that have been in places for decades (or longer). For students, it’s a chance to build more personalized learning pathways better suited to their long-term goals.” 

Education and the climate crisis

Dr Neff knows that environmental science will play a huge role in the future of our planet. He’s also an advocate for students who decide to mix his field with things like business and entrepreneurial courses. “My advice to students is to find these unconventional blends of environmental science and more practically-oriented training,” he says. “The real change makers in the future will be those who can contribute to the innovations needed to solve our many environmental problems.”