Amelia Hart, associate professor of practice in the Department of Accounting and Information Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville‘s Haslam College of Business, was recently announced as the first recipient of Haslam’s Inclusive Leadership Award. Presented by the college’s Office of Access and Community Connections (OACC) with the support of Haslam Corporate Partner EY, the award recognizes Haslam faculty and staff who have made outstanding contributions to advancing inclusive practices in their industries and communities.
Creating Opportunities through Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity
Hart’s inclusive endeavors include serving as the co-coordinator of Haslam’s Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy, a summer program that hosts rising high school juniors from underrepresented groups and introduces them to the field of accounting and information management. She is also a faculty senator and a member of the UT’s Teaching and Learning Innovation Task Force Advisory team, where she creates and connects efforts across disciplines and educational contexts for faculty development and for integrating curricular best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion.
Outside of the university, Hart volunteers for several service organizations, including serving on the boards of Goodwill Industries of Knoxville, the investment committee of United Way of Knoxville, Southeast Region Chapter Advocate for Beta Alpha Psi, Tennessee Society of CPAs, Tennessee Professional Ethics Committee, Caring Place, Boys Club of America, Pathway Credit Union and the National Association of Black Accounts, Southern Region. Further, she has served as co-chair of the American Accounting Association’s Diversity and Teaching, Learning and Curriculum section midyear meetings hosted in San Antonio, Texas, and in Bethesda, Maryland. Finally, Hart presents to area high school students and volunteers to teach Junior Achievement, among many other community-oriented initiatives. She is currently president-elect of the American Accounting Association diversity section and co-authors the bi-monthly Tennessee CPA Journal Accounting and Auditing Section articles.
Some of Hart’s recent awards and honors include the 2024 Rhea & Ivy Excellence in Teaching Award; 2023 Haslam College of Business Richard C. Reizenstein Outstanding Commitment to Students Award; 2023 Finalist for the Haslam College of Business Diversity and Inclusion Award; 2022 recipient of a Teaching & Learning Innovation Faculty Leader Award; 2021 Course Redesign Institute Award; 2021 Decosimo Faculty Leadership Award; and 2020 Nominee for the UT Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching award.
Honoring a Commitment to the Advancement of Others
Clarence Vaughn, the OACC’s director, explains that the Inclusive Leadership Award honors and celebrates individuals who have demonstrated excellence through their efforts to create diverse, inclusive and equitable opportunities in higher education. He believes Hart has shown a surpassing dedication to such efforts in both her work at Haslam and her volunteer activities.
“To show our profound respect for her many accomplishments in promoting diversity initiatives within our college and university and in the communities we serve, the Office of Access and Community Connections is honored to recognize Dr. Amelia Hart as our 2024 award recipient,” Vaughn said. “Through your efforts, you show each of us how inclusivity, equity and diversity create more opportunities for advancement in university life and beyond. On behalf of the Office of Access and Community Connections, the college and the university, I thank you for your service.”
Hart expressed her appreciation for this recognition, saying, “I am humbled to be selected for this Inaugural Inclusive Leadership Award. I savor the moment with reflective introspection, grateful that my decisions and choices have been guided by a commitment to lead [and] impact lives and the community. Whether on a platform or in a quiet space, demonstrating core principles of inclusivity has always been a leading factor in the way I use my gifts, talents, opportunities and strengths. Not all heroes wear capes because this is a moment that makes me a superhero. As opportunities avail, I will continue to make intentional choices that promote my commitment to the continuance of an inclusive future and society. I hope that my courage and resilience continue to deliver good will and stellar leadership.”
The Inclusive Leadership Award will be presented during Haslam’s annual Inclusion and Engagement Summit, taking place on Thursday, February 1, from 10 a.m.– 1:30 p.m. in the UT Student Union. More information can be found on the summit website.
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CONTACT:
Scott McNutt, business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
