Letter from the Editor

Publication Date: July 1, 2021

Hello fellow ACUA members!

My name is Claire Thomas, and I am delighted to be the new editor for College and University Auditor. First, I’d like to thank the prior editor, Jackie Pascoe, for her many contributions to the journal. I have enjoyed getting to know Jackie, and I have great respect for her work with ACUA. I would also like to thank our deputy editor, James Merritt, for his assistance with my transition into this role.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am the Audit Manager for the Internal Audit & Advisory Services department at Boston University. Prior to that, I worked alongside James for several years as a Principal Auditor at Duke University, and I welcome this opportunity to collaborate with him again!

I have always enjoyed the unique challenges and opportunities associated with working in higher education. Our institutions are constantly evolving, and as auditors, we must be innovative and agile in order to meet their needs. Our ACUA network plays an important role in fostering this commitment to continuous growth and professional development, and I am excited to be taking part in such an important objective. I look forward to working alongside our members as they continue to share their insights, resources and experiences with the broader ACUA community.

This issue of the journal brings workplace culture to center stage. After the turmoil and pressures of the last year, conversations about culture have likely been relegated to the back burner. But as many of our organizations begin to resume in-person work, this topic is becoming increasingly important. What kind of environment awaits us when we return? In this issue, Sabine Charles provides recommendations for how internal auditors can enhance client relationships and overall success through emotional intelligence. Jennifer Roberson and Chrissy McKeown share their insights and discuss strategies related to delivering effective feedback, while Harold Lederman offers tips on how to improve client relationships throughout your audit. In addition, Jaime Fernandez discusses how to support and partner with your athletics department. Finally, the journal team has tabulated your responses to our recent survey on workplace culture. Our article offers results, insights and a few takeaways.

The content of this and every issue of College and University Auditor is made possible by the contributions of knowledgeable professionals throughout our community. Please consider sharing your experience and expertise with us. The journal team is always happy to assist in developing your ideas or fine-tuning your article. Feel free to reach out to me with questions, comments or ideas for future articles at editor@ACUA.org, or contact me by phone at (617) 353-3324.

Thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy this issue of College and University Auditor!

Sincerely,
Claire Thomas