ACUA 2025-2026 Slate

Biography

Jana Phelps is the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) at Kansas State University, where she has spent the last 12 years of her audit career.  Jana received her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Biological Sciences from Kansas State University and received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Emporia State University.  Prior to working at Kansas State, Jana was a high school science teacher and coach, Controller for a rural health clinic, and she began her career in internal audit and finance working at a publicly traded retail company managing their Sarbanes-Oxley efforts.

Jana has been volunteering with ACUA since 2014, with most of her time spent on the Professional Education Committee (PEC).  For the past three years, Jana has served as a Board Member-at-Large, working with the Standards and Best Practices, Communications, and Membership Committees.  Jana was also a member of the Website Redesign Task Force and was involved in selecting the new ACUA logo in the Fall of 2024.  She is a member of The Sideline Committee, which focuses on issues and trends in NCAA Athletics, and the Member Awards sub-committee, and has presented at several ACUA conferences and regional IIA chapters.

In addition to her active involvement with ACUA, Jana has participated in numerous Quality Assurance Reviews for her ACUA peers.  She was recognized as the ACUA Rising Star Award winner in 2019 for her personal initiative and commitment to positively impacting higher education auditing.  Jana is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Internal Controls Auditor, and holds a Certification in Risk Management Assurance.

Personal Statement

ACUA holds a special place in my heart.  From the first conference I attended, I felt welcomed, and I greatly enjoyed and appreciated everyone’s willingness to share resources, tools, advice, stories, and anything else I asked for.  This collegiality and welcoming environment are why I am interested in continuing my Board service.

As part of my Board member-at-large service, I have been part of some big changes in ACUA; from raising membership rates for the first time in years, to working on the website redesign and doing a logo refresh, things that were necessary for ACUA to boldly advance.  But the most rewarding part of being on the Board is getting to be a part of the strategic direction of an organization who has given so much to me and ensuring my colleagues and friends are able to move forward in their career as internal auditors as well.  I look forward to continued service to ACUA and ensuring our members have everything they need to thrive.

Biography

Eulonda Whitmore is the Associate Vice President and Chief Audit Executive for the Wayne State University (WSU) Office of Internal Audit. She has been with WSU for 21 years. Prior to Wayne State University, she worked at Alan C. Young and Associates, a public accounting firm, for 6 years. In her current role, Eulonda leads a team of ten individuals, who provides assurance and advisory services and awareness trainings to Wayne State University. Eulonda teaches the internal audit course at the WSU Mike Ilitch School of Business. Teaching provides Eulonda the opportunity to invest in future auditors.

Eulonda currently serves as the Association of College and University Auditors Secretary/Treasurer. She became an ACUA member in 2004 and immediately connected with other higher education professionals. Her ACUA volunteer journey began with the ACUA Risk Dictionary. Eulonda became a Board member in 2021 and worked with the Communications and Recognition and Awards committees. As Treasurer, Eulonda works with the Investment and Finance Committee to oversee ACUA’s finances. Eulonda has also volunteered as a Conference Proctor, Panelist, and Speaker.

Eulonda is also involved with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) as she serves as the Central 1 District Representative; an IIA Training Facilitator; and past IIA Detroit Chapter Board Member and President. She also serves on the Michigan First Credit Union Supervisory Committee and the State of Michigan Board of Accountancy.

Eulonda earned her B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University and MBA from WSU. Eulonda is a Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Construction Auditor and has a Certified Risk Management Assurance designation. She enjoys hot chocolate chip cookies, reading, self-care, learning, helping others, and giving back to the audit profession.

Personal Statement

There is power in service. These past few years that I have served on the ACUA Board have provided me with a wealth of experience and insight as to how ACUA works and serves ACUA members. I have connected with and built lasting relationships with other ACUA members. Serving ACUA members allows me the opportunity to give back to the profession and industry and contributes to my purpose of being a servant leader. As Treasurer, I will continue working with the Investment and Finance Committee to achieve the goals that we developed and are working towards. I am committed to investing the time as Treasurer to serve ACUA members. The power in service represents a group of people working together to accomplish goals, support each other, and grow together. I would be honored to serve as the ACUA Treasurer and contribute to the big picture.

Biography

Katie Bumgardner is a Certified Internal Auditor with over 14 years of experience in internal audit, risk, legal, and compliance, with a specialized focus on IT risk, data governance, and regulatory compliance. As the Information Systems Auditor for the University of Alaska System, she leads risk-based audits and consults on IT-dependent compliance and governance. Her responsibilities include evaluating cybersecurity controls, performing continuous controls auditing, and serving on enterprise-level information technology committees.

Katie has been a dedicated and engaged ACUA volunteer since joining the organization in 2016. In her role as Chair of Chairs (2023–present), she works closely with committee leaders to align strategic goals and strengthen cross-committee collaboration. She also chaired the 5×25 Campaign during 2023 and 2024, a strategic initiative focused on expanding ACUA’s membership, improving the consistency and accuracy of member data, and analyzing engagement trends to inform more effective outreach.

From 2021 to 2023, Katie chaired the Professional Education Committee, where she helped develop timely, relevant, and high-quality programming for ACUA’s membership. Her earlier contributions include serving as the Audit Interactive Conference Director (2020–2021), participating on the AuditCon Planning Committee (2020), and contributing to the Virtual Learning Committee (2019–2020). In addition to her committee service, Katie has shared her expertise as a presenter at AuditCon in 2018, 2020, and 2023, and has volunteered as a session proctor every year since 2018.

In 2021, Katie was honored with ACUA’s Rising Star Award, recognizing her early and impactful contributions to the association and the higher education audit profession.

Beyond ACUA, Katie’s continued to demonstrate leadership and service in the internal audit profession. In 2020, she co-founded and continues to lead a monthly virtual roundtable for internal audit leaders across the Pacific Northwest, fostering ongoing professional dialogue, collaboration, and peer mentorship. She also serves on the Audit Committee for the State of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, further demonstrating her commitment to governance, transparency, and the public good.

Personal Statement

I’m honored to be considered for the role of Board Member-at-Large. ACUA has had a profound influence on my professional growth and personal development, and it’s been an absolute privilege to give back through the many volunteer and leadership roles I’ve held over the years.

I’m deeply passionate about the work that we do, not just as auditors, but as a community. ACUA brings professionals together – across institutions, disciplines, and stages of career – to share knowledge, foster connection, and advance the field of higher education internal auditing. Through the years, I’ve witnessed the organization’s power to not only educate but to empower.

Having spent years contributing in tactical and operational roles, I’m excited for the opportunity to serve in a more strategic capacity. I bring a collaborative spirit, a strong commitment to service, and a deep understanding of ACUA’s mission and values. If elected, I will continue to prioritize inclusive engagement, forward-thinking education, and the development of emerging leaders. I look forward to helping guide ACUA’s long-term vision and contributing to its continued success and sustainability!

Biography

Patrick McKinney serves as director for the Office of Internal Audits at The University of Texas at Austin. In this role, he oversees completion of the annual audit plan and is responsible for the office’s quality assurance program.

Prior to joining the UT Austin, Patrick led the External Audit and Advisory Services function at the Texas Department of Transportation, where he oversaw external compliance audits and provided internal advisory work. Previously, he served as an audit manager with Texas Tech University System, where he focused on research and healthcare-related audits. Overall, Patrick has worked in higher education internal audit for approximately 15 years. He is a Certified Internal Auditor and a graduate of Texas Tech University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance.

Patrick has volunteered with ACUA for approximately four years as a part of the Membership committee. He is currently finishing his second year as the committee chair and has previously been the mentorship program director. During his time on the committee, Patrick has been a part of strategic efforts to evaluate membership rates and to expand outreach to institutions across the country. Additionally, he served on an ACUA task force charged with conducting a financial analysis of conference delivery methods (i.e., in-person or virtual) and recommending future delivery methods for Audit Interactive.

Patrick served as the president of the Austin Chapter of the IIA in 2020 and served on the Chapter’s leadership team/board from 2019-2023.

Outside of internal audit, Patrick enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the mountains, attending his daughters’ swim meets, and hitting way too many shots on the golf course.

Personal Statement

As chair of the membership committee, I have had a unique vantage point into the interest and input of the members. Over the past several years the committee has expanded the mentorship program, launched a new member webinar series, completed a member needs survey, and made strategic recommendations for board consideration.  I am confident that the collaboration and success of the membership team has prepared me to serve in a role that helps to set the strategies necessary for ACUA to provide continued value to its members.

Just as within the membership committee, the success of ACUA depends on the dedication of many volunteers and their ability to collaborate as a team. I am excited at the possibility of joining a new team that shapes how ACUA not only addresses challenges, but more importantly, seizes opportunities in the coming years.