Ex-UMass Amherst provost fined $10K for hiring brother improperly

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AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – A former Associate Provost at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has paid a $10,000 civil penalty for violating conflict of interest laws by participating in her brother’s hiring within her department.

Mass.gov states that the State Ethics Commission approved a disposition agreement with Heather Sharpes-Smith, in which she admitted to the violation and waived her right to a public hearing. The conflict arose when Sharpes-Smith, while overseeing the Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support Department, facilitated the hiring of her brother for both temporary and permanent positions without proper disclosure.

Back in May of 2023, Sharpes-Smith inquired about hiring an unnamed individual for a temporary learning management system (LMS) position, not informing them that the individual was her brother. She then proceeded with the hire after receiving approval from Human Resources, who were aware of the relationship but instructed that she could not supervise him.

Sharpes-Smith was involved in recommending her brother for the temporary position, signing his offer letter, and verifying his identity for a background check. She also approved his timesheets and authorized his compensation during his temporary employment.

Then, in August of 2023, she was authorized to fill a permanent LMS support position, in which she participated in the hiring process by reviewing resumes and eliminating candidates, ultimately forwarding the hiring committee’s recommendation of her brother for the permanent role. He was hired in November of that year with a salary of $68,000.

The conflict of interest law requires state employees to disclose any financial interest involving immediate family members to their appointing authority and the State Ethics Commission. Sharpes-Smith failed to make such disclosures or receive the necessary determinations before participating in her brother’s hiring.

“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. “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.”

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.

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Emma McCorkindale

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