The Public Interest, Ethics, and Sustainability Section
Welcome! We're glad you're here.
Mission
The American Accounting Association Public Interest, Ethics, and Sustainability Section is committed to advancing the role of accounting in promoting the public trust, ethical behavior, and sustainable practices. We support the teaching of best practices, the dissemination of knowledge, rigorous academic research, and approaches that align accounting with the broader societal goals of professional ethics, accountability, corporate social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
Vision
Our vision is to be the leading organization for integrating public interest, ethics, and sustainability concepts into accounting education and research. We strive to inspire and support accounting academics and professionals to contribute significantly to ethical behavior, socially responsible decisions, and sustainable development, reporting, and actions, ensuring that the accounting academy and profession serves the long-term interests of society.
The 2026 GNP Section Midyear Meeting
In Collaboration with the PIES Section
A Huge Success!
Photo courtesy of The University of New Hampshire
Our 2026 GNP Section Midyear Meeting, was held on March 20-21, 2026, at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH.
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all participants, presenters, and organizers whose contributions played an integral role in making this event such a meaningful and successful experience. Your engagement, insights, and collaboration were invaluable to the overall success of the meeting.
We truly hope you found the program both enriching and rewarding, and we warmly invite you to join us again next year for another opportunity to connect, learn, and advance the field of accounting education together.
Who We Are
Objective
The Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association is committed to promoting knowledge and the exchange of ideas related to the effects of accounting information and the accounting profession on the public good, as well as the social and ethical responsibilities of accountants in the business world. Our members are active in the areas where accountants and accounting information influence the quality of our society and common life such as:
- corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting;
- professional and business ethics;
- societal welfare;
- governmental regulation; and
- social justice
Officers
Chair
Anne L Schnader
Chair-Elect
Lisa Baudot
Past Chair
Charles W Stanley
Secretary/Treasurer
Patrick T Kelly
Vice Chair of Education
Michael Ruff
Vice Chair of International Membership
Dana Wallace
Vice Chair-Director of Research
Vaughan Radcliffe
Awards
2022 Distinguished Service Award
- Charles Stanley, Baylor University
2022 Accounting Exemplar Award
- George H. Diacont
2020 Outstanding Service Award
- Vaughan Radcliffe, Western University
2022 Excellence in Accounting Ethics Education Award
- William F. Miller, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Tara J. Shawver, King's College
Welcome! We're glad you're here.
Join the Public Interest Section
The Public Interest Section has the following objectives:
- Promote interaction among member of the academic and professional communities interested in the interface of accounting with social, economic, ethical and political consequences of corporate activity in a wide variety of areas such as, but not limited to; sustainability accounting and reporting; professional and business ethics; corporate social responsibility and governance; regulation; and social justice.
- Encourage research in public interest accounting by identifying areas in need of research, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and findings, and providing opportunities for exposure of research results.
- Present programs that create and expand an awareness of the profession's responsibility to society.
- Develop and promote educational materials that foster an awareness of social and ethical issues in accounting students.
- Encourage interdisciplinary exchanges between accountants and members of other learned groups.
Thank you for deciding to join the Public Interest Section. To join the PI Section, you must be a current member of the American Accounting Association.
- Become an AAA and PI Section member or renew your membership: Click Here
Add PI Section membership to your current AAA membership:
- Download and complete the Membership Add-On form.
- Email completed form to ar@aaahq.org, or fax to 941-923-4093, or mail to American Accounting Association, 9009 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
If you have questions about membership click here: info@aaahq.org and your email will go directly to the AAA Member Services.
OUR SECTION 2026-2027 ELECTION
Review the Slate Prior to the Election
The PIES Section Election voting will begin on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Please take the time to review the slate HERE before the election opens.
Journal
Accounting and the Public Interest is an academic journal published by the Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association. The journal takes the view that accounting activities have societal impact. We welcome research in a wide variety of areas such as, but not limited to: sustainability accounting and reporting; professional and business ethics; corporate social responsibility and governance; regulation; and social justice.
Learn More
Alternative Accounting Research Network (AARN)
AARN is a global community of interdisciplinary accounting researchers with a commitment to independent, innovative and purposeful research that seeks to address contemporary social and environmental challenges. For more information, please vist: AARN
Case Studies
Boeing: Putting Profits Ahead of Safety - by Steven M. Mintz, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and William F. Miller, Ed.D, Professor, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire