Member Spotlight – Patricia Davidson, CFE, CIA

May 18, 2026

“AuditCon in 2023 was my first deep dive into ACUA, and the value of this organization was immediately clear. I was so impressed that I actively sought a way to contribute, leading me to join the Auditing and Accounting Principles subcommittee (within Best Practices) in 2024. ACUA has become an indispensable resource for me, offering the expertise and network I need to navigate this unique environment.”

Professional Background
Patty Davidson, CFE, CIA, has returned to her roots, now serving as Director of Internal Audit at Binghamton University (part of the State University of New York or SUNY system), where she earned her bachelor’s in accounting. Her career began at IBM, establishing a strong foundation in internal audit before she moved to the public sector. There, Patty applied her expertise to critical roles, including tax audits for the IRS and financial crimes investigations for the Department of Justice, demonstrating a deep commitment to accountability.

Following her return to Binghamton, Patty quickly became involved with the Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA), now directing its Auditing and Accounting Principles Subcommittee.

Spotlight Nomination

“Patricia is a relative newcomer to higher ed, and in her short time she has already proven to be a valuable member of ACUA. She has been instrumental in developing a gap assessment tool to support internal audit shops in evaluating their compliance with the recently released IIA Global Internal Audit Standards.

Under her leadership of the Auditing & Accounting Principles subcommittee (AAP), AAP hosted two roundtables and a concurrent session at the 2026 Audit Interactive conference, providing ACUA members with insights about practical application of the Global Internal Audit Standards. Patty approaches her volunteer commitments with a sense of dedication, collaboration, and humility, helping everyone feel welcome and valued.”