The Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics builds moral character, cultivates ethical decision-making, and supports a culture of integrity to advance human flourishing. We do this through the creation of innovative programs and resources that serve the Belmont community and businesses and organizations.
A Culture of Business Ethics
Today, more than ever, issues of ethics and character play a pivotal role in the culture of business and, regardless of your ambitions and your endeavors, understanding and consideration of the foundations of business ethics is critical to the well-being of your organization. The Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics in the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University focuses on creating ethical business leaders for a better society.
From the beginning, the Center for Business Ethics has focused on developing practical approaches to enable people to deal successfully with the difficult ethical issues and decisions they face in the workplace. A major goal of the Center is to develop ethical leadership which will strengthen organizations as they seek to build and nurture ethical cultures.
Resources
Events Sponsored by the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics
Belmont University wants students to have a common or shared experience that promotes the development of a well-rounded individual by encouraging learning outside the classroom and life-long learning. Events serve as an educational tool toward that end. Consistent with this goal, outside speakers and business leaders are brought to campus to address topics of business ethics. Often open to the public, events sponsored by the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics are regularly attended by students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs within the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University.
The Harry N. Hollis Student of Integrity Award
This is an annual award in honor of Dr. Harry N. Hollis, co-founder and Director of the Center for Business Ethics at Belmont for 15 years. It was made possible through an endowment underwritten by executives of the Tri-Star Health Systems and an anonymous donor. The First Place Award of $1000 is presented to a student at the annual Jack C. Massey College of Business Awards Event whose winning essay was selected by the judges. A Second Place Award of $500 is given to the runner-up. Each year the selected topic for the competition is reflective of a current and relevant ethical issue facing business leaders in today’s society.
Student Chapter of the Center for Public Trust (CPT)
The Edward C Kennedy Center for Business Ethics in association with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) sponsors the Belmont student chapter of CPT. The mission of the Student Center for Public Trust is to promote ethical thinking in the developing character and conscience of students. Activities include student led presentations and discussions of current ethical issues in business, Ethics in Action video competition, leadership development, community service and ethics case competitions. The Belmont chapter is a multi-year Golden Star Chapter winner. In 2023, the team took 1st place in the national Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition at Stetson University.
Thor Wasbotten
Email: thor.wasbotten@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 550C
Meet the Faculty
Cheryl Black
Email: cheryl.black@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey 448
Eduardo Lopez
Email: eduardo.lopez@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Hall 333A
Jason Lee McKinney
Office Location: Johnson Center 392
Haskell Murray
Email: haskell.murray@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Hall 438
Barry Padgett
Email: barry.padgett@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Hall 349
Paula Roberts
Email: paula.roberts@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Hall 453
Kristin Wilson
Email: kristin.wilson@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Rogers Center 436
History
The Center for Business Ethics was founded in 1994 by Dr. Clifford Eubanks, Dean of Belmont University's Jack C. Massey College of Business, and Dr. Harry N. Hollis, James M. Medlin Chair of Business Ethics. Working with Dr. William E. Troutt, then President of Belmont University, the James Medlin family made possible the establishment of the Center with generous gifts to Belmont University to be used to support the teaching of Ethics to students at the university.
Dr. James M. Clapper, Dean of the College of Business from 1997-2003, continued the strong commitment enabling the Center to grow and become an effective resource for promoting responsible ethics in businesses and in the professions. Under Dr. J. Patrick Raines, who became Dean in 2003, the Center for Business Ethics continued to prosper. Mr. Harold Fogelberg served as Director of the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics from 2010 until his retirement in 2018. Mr. W. Boyd Smith was appointed the Center’s third Director in 2018 and served until 2024. Thor Wasbotten arrived in July 2025 and currently serves as Executive Director. The Center continues to flourish under the leadership of Massey College of Business Dean Randy V. Bradley.
The work of the Center was greatly strengthened initially by gifts from The First Tennessee Foundation and by The Dorothy Cate and Thomas F. Frist Foundation. These gifts have been used to help present conferences on such issues as health care, business ethics, sports ethics, and ethics in the music business. These gifts have also funded scholarships for students to attend conferences sponsored by the Center.
In November 2012, Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey College of Business celebrated a generous endowment received from civic leader and Belmont Trustee Helen Kennedy by naming its Center for Business Ethics in honor of her late husband, Edward Creasman Kennedy, a local businessman who exemplified the values the Center promotes. A graduate of Hume Fogg High School and lifetime deacon of Judson Baptist Church, Mr. Kennedy co-founded Ed’s Supply Company and was actively involved in many organizations related to the heating, cooling and refrigeration industry. Mr. Kennedy also served 12 years as a Belmont University Trustee. Mr. Kennedy was widely recognized for his consistent and unwavering commitment to fair, honest and ethical practices in all aspects of his business and personal relationships.
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board represents the breadth and diversity of the Middle Tennessee business community, and its members actively participate in and support the Center’s programs in furtherance of its mission.
Contact Us
Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
Email: thor.wasbotten@belmont.edu
Phone: (615) 460-6175
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