Board Member-at-Large

Amy Kozak

For 20+ years, Amy Kozak has been committed to helping organizations by providing audit, compliance, and consulting services. Amy is currently the Audit Director at the University of California (UC), Santa Cruz, where she plans, directs, and executes a comprehensive internal audit, advisory, and investigation program in line with the organization's strategic goals. Before UCSC, she was the Executive Director of Audit & Consulting Services at Western Washington University (WWU) and Senior Internal Auditor at Tulane University. Prior to Higher Education, Amy worked in various industries, including telecommunications, financial services, and public accounting.

Amy’s leadership is not confined to her professional roles. A longstanding volunteer who believes in giving back, Amy currently serves as the Standards & Best Practices (S&BP) Committee Chair for the Association of College & University Auditors (ACUA), leading over 90 members across the nation on eight committees developing tools and resources to help empower other higher education internal auditors perform their roles within their organizations. As the S&BP Committee Chair, she oversees Kick Starters, the Resource Library, the Risk Dictionary, Surveys, Data Analytics, Auditing & Accounting Principles, NCAA/Athletics “The Sideline”, and the NEW Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committees.

In addition to her ACUA leadership, Amy’s accomplishments include starting multiple committees (NCAA/Athletics “The Sideline” and the NEW AI Committees), rebuilding multiple committees (Data Analytics and Risk Dictionary), creating new volunteer roles ( Survey Coordinator and Kick Starter Recruiter), implementing new processes (Survey and Resource Library calendar, Kick Starter recruiting, and succession planning), increasing collaboration between committees, and improving governance by developing a Standards & Best Practices Committee procedures manual.

Amy is a five-time repeat presenter at the national ACUA conferences. She was the recipient of the ACUA Rising Star Award in 2022. She also serves on the Member Awards Committee, was the Host Committee Lead at the 2018 Annual Conference in New Orleans, has been a conference proctor, and participated in the Mentor/Mentee Program. She has also previously served on the Board and as past Vice President and President for the Institute of Internal Auditors, New Orleans chapter, and sat on the Escambia County School District Audit Committee.

Amy also enjoys giving back to the organizations for which she works. She has been a guest speaker for college classes on forensic accounting, fraud, and internal controls. She participates on various committees at UC Santa Cruz, including the IT Security Governance Council, the Audit, Compliance, Ethics and Risk (ACER) Oversight Committee, and the UC system-wide Internal Audit AI Strategy Setting Workgroup. Amy sat on WWU's Enterprise Risk Management, Executive Policy, Business Management Advisory, and Employment Practices Committees. At Tulane University, Amy sat on the University Senate, the Staff Advisory Council, and the Health & Wellness Committee, where she developed an intramural sports program for faculty and staff.

Amy's dedication to excellence is underscored by her educational background and professional certifications. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Tulane University, with a specialization in Strategic Management and Innovation, and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of West Florida. Amy's professional qualifications also include being a Certified Internal Auditor. Beyond her professional life, Amy enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, indulging in her love for tacos, and taking her rescue pup, Evie, on outdoor adventures.