Araya Debessay, left, with Jim Turley, chairman and CEO of Ernst and Young.

Araya Debessay, Professor of Accounting and Management Information Systems in the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, has won a 2010 Ernst and Young Inclusive Excellence

Award for Accounting and Business School Faculty.

The award honors five faculty members from across the country who have had a significant impact on diversity and inclusiveness within their business schools and universities.

Nominations are based on the faculty members’ contributions to building inclusive excellence in the business school community through demonstration of one or more of the following: commitment and accountability in the business school and university; diverse student recruitment and retention; and curriculum and learning.

“I am humbled to have received this award from Ernst and Young and I will take it as a reminder of the work I need to continue,” said Debessay. “The University is surely making impressive strides toward achieving its diversity, inclusiveness and equity goals and in creating a welcoming environment that celebrates diversity. However, we must continue to make efforts in these areas.

“I am also very pleased that the award will give visibility and publicity to the University’s efforts in promoting diversity, inclusiveness and equity,” Debessay said.

Bobby Gempesaw, dean of the Lerner College, said that Debessay was most deserving of the award.

“Prof. Debessay has played a critical role in attracting and advocating the hiring of underrepresented groups in faculty, professional and administrative positions,” said Gempesaw. “He has contributed so much in making UD a more welcoming institution to diverse members of the faculty, staff and students. I am very pleased that he is honored with this award to recognize his three decades of promoting inclusiveness, equity and diversity.”

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