About the Diversity Section
Our Mission
To be the primary forum for the enhancement and support of diversity in accounting education, research, and practice.
Value Propositions
Community
To create a diverse community of accounting students, faculty and practitioners
Diversity Research
To encourage and support research that will create awareness of diversity issues in accounting education and practice
Faculty Development
To enhance and support the professional development of all faculty members and doctoral students
Partnerships
To encourage and support collaboration among accounting students, faculty and practitioners to address diversity issues in the workplace
Infrastructure
To provide high quality, cost-effective services and support for the programs and activities of the Section
Shared Values
- Valuing diversity; respect for others
- Service to members and others
- Sense of community
- Innovation; willingness to change
- High ethical values and behavior
- Open communications
- Fairness
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Dear Diversity Section Members:
It was not my intent to start a letter to the section this way, but this announcement does fit in with the theme. Barbee Oakes has retired from the AAA to concentrate on her health. I ask that you send healing thoughts/wishes/prayers her way. In an unretirement, she joined as Chief Diversity Officer at the AAA. In her short time at AAA, she has brought a welcome light along with tremendous experience and expertise.
The tool she developed in the DEIB Certificate places much of that expertise into a series of modules that I encourage you not to merely view passively and earn the certificate, but to embrace and use as a tool for starting conversations among your colleagues. You may ask (and I have already been asked/challenged), “Why do I need a DEIB certificate?” As Diversity Section members, we think about these issues more than most already. However, I am struck by the words of Billy Williams, KPMG Houston Partner and DEI Leader who spoke at the joint Diversty/TLC Midyear in October, when he said, “Nobody is a diversity expert.” So, while you may not need it, I guarantee you will learn something from it.