A former associate provost at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst has paid a $10,000 fine for violating the state’s conflict of interest law by hiring her brother to work in her department, the State Ethics Commission said Wednesday.
Heather Sharpes-Smith was the Associate Provost for Instructional Design and Technology in May 2023 when she sought to hire her brother for a temporary learning management position until a permanent role could be posted, the commission said in a statement.
Sharpes-Smith sent an email in May 2023 to human resources and her appointing authority, the senior vice provost for academic affairs, asking if a “guy” could be appointed to the temporary job, the commission said.
She did not disclose that the “guy” was her brother, according to the statement.
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After receiving approval for the temporary hire, Sharpes-Smith informed human resources—but not the senior vice provost or the state Ethics Commission—that she intended to hire her brother.
Human resources said she was authorized to hire him but not supervise him, according to the statement.
When her brother was offered the position, Sharpes-Smith signed his offer letter, verified his identity for a background check, and later approved his timesheets and compensation, the statement said.
In August 2023, Sharpes-Smith received permission to fill the permanent LMS position, according to the statement. She designated a subordinate to lead a hiring committee but participated in screening candidates. The committee ultimately recommended her brother, and she forwarded that recommendation for approval. He was hired in November 2023 at a salary of $68,000, the statement said.
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According to the commission, Sharpes-Smith violated the state’s conflict of interest law, which bars public employees from “participating in matters in which they know they or members of their immediate family have a financial interest.”
The law allows an exemption if an employee first makes a written disclosure to their appointing authority, who must determine the financial interest is not substantial enough to compromise their service and file that determination publicly with the commission. Sharpes-Smith made no such disclosure, the statement said.
“A public employee’s unlawful participation in the hiring and compensation of their family member erodes public confidence in the fairness of public employee hiring and pay,” said State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson in the statement.
“When a public employee fails to follow the proper process before participating and doesn’t disclose relevant facts to their appointing authority, and their appointing authority doesn’t make the determination allowing their participation, the employee violates the conflict of interest law.”
Sharpes-Smith admitted the violation and waived her right to a public hearing under a disposition agreement approved by the commission.
Sharpes-Smith held the role of Associate Provost at UMass from September 2022 through September 2024, according to her LinkedIn page. She now serves as executive director of URI Online, a program at the University of Rhode Island, according to the school’s website.
She did not immediately respond to the Globe’s request for comment Wednesday night. UMass Amherst also did not respond to a request for comment.
Rita Chandler can be reached at rita.chandler@globe.com.