Accounting Professor, Author, PAC-15 member and Role Model

To honor Diversity Month (April), I talked to PhD Project PAC-15 member Dr. Art Wharton of Virginia State University about his journey from his start in the world of engineering to his current role as an accounting professor. The PhD Project played a pivotal role in reshaping his career path by welcoming him into a community of likeminded professionals and providing him with learning and networking opportunities to support his goals. Highlighting the importance of faculty as role models, Arthur shares the profound impact of representation in the classroom and fostering an inclusive learning environment that prepares students for an increasingly diverse corporate world.?

Here’s what Arthur had to say:

Could you explain why you decided to transition from your engineering career to pursue a business PhD? In what ways did The PhD Project contribute to reshaping your career path?

Arthur: I first transitioned from engineering to finance. I decided to get an MBA to follow a management career direction rather than a technical one. After selecting finance, because it was quantitative and I was comfortable with numbers, my sights were trained on investment banking. After completing my MBA, I was unable to get a job in finance, so I ended up teaching high school in the DC Public Schools. I then taught a Series 7 preparation course and eventually started teaching college as an adjunct professor. This is where I discovered my love for teaching and I desired to teach college full-time. To teach full-time at the college level requires a PhD, so I knew I would need to earn one. After attending the 2003 conference, I had all my questions answered and I knew I had to do it, pursue my PhD immediately. The PhD Project provided emotional support in the network I developed during the annual ADSA meetings, financial support and most importantly, real-life examples of people who completed their programs that I could use as role models. It also provided exposure to the American Accounting Association Annual Conference, where I attended research presentations and was able to gauge my progress as I developed into an academic researcher.

We know you love teaching and being a professor. Tell us why!

Arthur: I love being a facilitator of knowledge acquisition. There is nothing better than actually seeing the light bulb illuminate in the eyes of a student who finally understands a difficult concept after I have used an analogy or example they can relate to. This is particularly rewarding when the example or analogy is unplanned and it pops into my head as I try to find something that will work better than what I just tried. Also, when former students return and tell me that I was a pivotal positive part in their college experience and development as a professional.?

Can you tell us a bit more about your new book “Transform Your Mind and Change Your Life: A Guided Journey Toward Living Your Dream Life”?

Arthur: The book is specifically written for people who are frustrated with where their life currently is and want something better but don’t know where to start or how to proceed. It provides steps that can be followed to help someone discover what they want to do and how to go about getting to their dream life. I use lessons I learned – in hindsight – on my own journey as I stumbled, went down dead-end paths and eventually emerged doing what I know I was put on this earth to do: teach.

Also, persons who are at life inflection points and are unsure which direction they should take or how to proceed with pursuing a particular direction can benefit from its lessons as well.

April is Diversity Month. Why do you think having diverse faculty/role models in the front of the business classroom impacts diversifying the corporate workforce?

Arthur: Having diverse faculty and role models is extremely beneficial for both majority and under-represented minority students. The societal impact cannot be underestimated for both groups. When I first began teaching the Series 7 preparation course, I was the only non-white person in the room. In the next couple of cycles teaching the course there were two African Americans, an older gentleman and young man probably in his twenties, among the students. After their first class, they hung around as I gathered my things. I told them I was so glad to have them in the class to get this information that so many of our people don’t know. The older gentleman cut me off and said, “No, you don’t know how glad we are to see you where you are in the front of the class teaching this information.”

?As college-age students mold their perspectives on life and the world, it's crucial to provide them with a multitude of diverse viewpoints. In our rapidly changing and intricate world, this exposure is essential for equipping them to navigate the complexities of an evolving society.

Anything else you would like to mention about The PhD Project?

Arthur: Only that I love The PhD Project and have a debt of gratitude for all that it has done for me in preparing me to live my dream life doing what I know I was put on Earth to do.

Pursue your dream and transform your life. Apply to The PhD Project annual conference and discover if this career path is right for you. We are now accepting applications for the 2025 conference at: Annual Conference - The PhD Project