June 15, 2026 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
The South Carolina Public Health Association (SCPHA) has selected Executive Director for Operations and Accreditation Joseph “Lee” Pearson as the 2026 recipient of the James A. Hayne Award. Created in honor of SCPHA’s first president, this award recognizes an individual’s contributions to public health in the state over an extended period of time.
“In his role at the Arnold School, Dr. Pearson has helped ensure that every student and faculty member is prepared for the ever-changing landscape of public health,” says Jaiden Branch, a program manager with the SC Hospital Association. “He has also held a variety of leadership roles in public health administration and systems-level work, and I have been amazed by his level in engagement in multiple boards, alliances and coalitions as well as the respect he shows towards the communities he serves.”
Pearson arrived in the Palmetto State more than 30 years ago. After growing up in nearby Asheville, he attended the University of North Carolina’s local campus before moving to Alabama to earn a Master of Sport Science degree at the United States Sports Academy.
Pearson gained practical experience in biometrics, diabetes management and cardiac rehabilitation at facilities in Georgia before joining McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence in 1994. Enrolling in USC’s Graduate Certificate of Gerontology program (College of Social Work) aligned well with his cardiac rehabilitation work and he next decided to pursue a Doctor of Public Health in the Arnold School’s Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB).
As Pearson wrapped up his doctoral degree, he made the transition from McLeod to serving as a research associate with HPEB. He was soon recruited to serve as the Homeland Security Liaison in the Office for the Vice President for Research and Health Sciences while simultaneously serving as Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Dean back at the Arnold School.
In 2007, Pearson helped launch the SC Institute of Medicine and Public Health (originally the SC Public Health Institute) where he served as deputy director, director and then director of operations for nearly a decade. He maintained a close connection with the Arnold School as a collaborator and adjunct member of the HPEB faculty until he returned to take on his current position in 2016 as well as the title of clinical associate professor. In these two roles, Pearson has consistently propelled the school forward through accreditation cycles and unexpected challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic while shaping the future of public health professionals and scholars.
In addition to the leadership, problem solving and strategic planning Pearson has brought to the school over the past 10 years, he has prioritized his role in the classroom as well as his contributions to various areas of public health – earning him the James A. Keith Excellence in Teaching Award (2019) and Faculty Service Award (2021). From 2017 until 2022, he co-directed the Arnold School’s Office for the Study of Aging, during which time he also stepped in as interim chair for the Department of Exercise Science.
Off campus, his more recent service roles have included a gubernatorial appointment on the SC Joint Legislative Committee on Aging and Board Member (and two-year role as chair) for the SC Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. In addition, Pearson is a member of the Board of Trustees and current Board Chair for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC and serves on the Board of the SC Office of Rural Health
“Throughout his career, Dr. Pearson has consistently gone above and beyond the usual professional requirements,” says Beata Dewitt, an environmental health manager with the SC Department of Environmental Services and the Environmental Health Section Chair for SCPHA. “His work not only exemplifies excellence in public health practice but also reflects a deep passion for serving others and building healthier communities.”