NASBA Awards N.C. A&T Professor Research Grant

Dr. Brandis Philips, assistant professor of accounting at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has been awarded a research grant by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

Philips, and several other academic researchers, educators and accounting professionals will utilize the grants, totaling $25,000, to better understand some of the challenges associated with developing high-quality, advanced placement courses in accounting, and those related to educating a diverse population and building a more inclusive profession.

“From an accounting industry perspective, my award is an acknowledgement that diversity is a key variable in the continued success of the profession.  It also acknowledges that diverse students may suffer from a variety of obstacles to enter the profession,” said Philips.  

His pointed research will not only provide insightful information regarding accounting students, but his findings are likely to be extremely beneficial to the university’s academic enterprise development across multiple disciplines.

“The award will allow me to gain a better understanding of why minority students tend to shy away from quantitative careers (even though they tend to pay more) as well as to understand if there are any significant differences between minority and majority students in their attitudes toward accounting and quantitative careers in general,” adds Philips regarding his projected outcomes.

Since NASBA’s grant program’s initial launch in 2011, an estimated $150,000 has been awarded to academic researchers representing 27 U.S. institutions.