Section Governance

Bylaws
Leadership

Objectives

  1. Promote interaction among members of the academic and professional communities interested in the interface of accounting with social, economic, ethical, and political consequences of corporate activity, and in exploring the social and ethical roles and responsibilities of the accounting profession.
  2. 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.
  3. Present programs that create and expand an awareness of the profession's responsibility to society.
  4. Develop and promote educational materials that foster an awareness of social and ethical issues in accounting students-
  5. Encourage interdisciplinary exchanges between accountants and members of other learned groups.
View Officer Archives

Chair

Vaughan Radcliffe
Western University

Past Chair

Patrick Kelly
Providence College

Vice Chair

Vice Chair-Director of Communications
Lawrence Chui
University of St Thomas - Minneapolis
Vice Chair-Director of Research
Patrick Kelly
Providence College
Vice Chair-Director of Membership
Dana Wallace
University of Central Florida

Secretary/Treasurer

Patrick Kelly
Providence College

Council Representative

Michele Frank
Miami University

Editor

Associate Editor (API)
Lisa Baudot
HEC Paris
API Associate Editor
Donna Bobek Schmitt
University of South Carolina
Senior Editor-Accounting and the Public Interest Journal (API)
Amy Hageman
Kansas State University
API Associate Editor
Steve Perreault
Providence College
API Associate Editor
Diane Roberts
University of San Francisco
API Associate Editor
Dana Wallace
University of Central Florida

Advisory Board Member

API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Carol Dee
University of Colorado-Denver
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Dana Hermanson
Kennesaw State University
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
James Jenkins
Auburn University
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Patrick Kelly
Providence College
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
William McCarthy
Michigan State University
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Louella Moore
Washburn University - Topeka
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Byron Pike
Minnesota State University - Mankato
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Vaughan Radcliffe
Western University
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Steve Sutton
NHH Norwegian School of Economics
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Stefanie Tate
University of Massachusetts Lowell
API Editorial Advisory Board Member
Paul Williams
North Carolina State University

Awards

2023 Public Interest Section Best Paper Awards

We are pleased to present our 2023 Public Interest Section best papers awards to the following recipients:

PI: "Native American Governments' Borrowing Costs: Evidence from Municipal Bond Markets" by Serena Loftus (Kent State University), Sarah Shonka McCoy (University of New Mexico), and R. Z. Zhang (Kent State University).

AIS/SET: “Motivated Cognition and Employees’ Perceived Fairness of Algorithmic Performance Evaluation” by Yunshil Cha (University of New Hampshire). 

International: “‘No Comment’: Language Barriers and the IASB’s Comment Letter Process” by Emily Anne Shafron (Texas A&M University), Christopher G. Yust (Texas A&M University), Brian Monsen (The Ohio State University), and Eduardo Flores (University of São Paulo)

ATA: “Investigating the Marriage Tax Penalty’s Disparate Impact on Financially Vulnerable and Historically Disadvantaged Couples” by Christine Cheng (The University of Mississippi), Amy J. N. Yurko (Duquesne University), Joseph Paul Yurko (University of Pittsburgh), and Ronald Joseph Yurko (Carnegie Mellon University)

Forensic: “Financial Fraud, Hispanics, and Transgenerational Bonds” by Jesus R. Jimenez Andrade (Texas A&M University-San Antonio)

Journal

Accounting and the Public Interest

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. We welcome innovative research designs along with more traditional ones. The common thread among this wide array of research areas is the requirement that each study and its findings be grounded in the public interest by situating the study within a historical, social, or political context, and by providing guidance for responsible action.  

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

28th Annual Ethics Research Symposium

Please check out the program for the 28th Annual Ethics Symposium sponsored by the Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association to be held on August 11, 2024, in Washington, D.C. You can register for the Symposium on the website of the American Accounting Association (https://aaahq.org/Meetings/2024/Annual-Meeting). You do not have to register for the full AAA meeting to attend the Symposium, just register for the Symposium itselfContinuing Professional Education is provided for attending these sessions as indicated in the program.

Letter from the Chair

Check back for more information.

Events

26th Annual Ethics Research Symposium

In conjunction with the Public Interest Section, colleagues across the AAA who are engaged and interested in research and teaching related to Ethics are invited to submit papers, cases, and panel session proposals for presentation at the 26th Annual Ethics Research Symposium. The Symposium will be held in person in San Diego, California on Sunday, July 31st before the AAA Annual Meeting. The 26th Annual Ethics Research Symposium encourages submissions of all academic research, teaching papers, panel sessions, case studies (with related notes) that address relevant issues in accounting ethics. Submitted research should focus on ethical issues for individuals, companies, government, or society that ultimately inform applications for teaching, business practice, or policy.

The Accounting Exemplar award and the Excellence in Accounting Ethics Education Award will be presented by the Public Interest Section during the Symposium. In addition, the Symposium will recognize other research, including Best Research Paper, Best Innovation for Teaching, Best Paper by a current doctoral student, or Best Paper by an early career scholar (graduation from a doctoral program must have occurred within the last 3 years). Questions can be sent to the Ethics Research Symposium Co-chairs: Lisa Baudot, UCF (lisa.baudot@ucf.edu) and Dana Wallace, UCF (dana.wallace@ucf.edu

For more information, please visit here