Brenda is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor, with a Master of Accountancy degree and over 20 years of professional accounting experience. She is responsible for the internal audit function for the New Mexico State University (NMSU) System. Before accepting her current position in 1998, Brenda taught accounting courses as a College Assistant Professor in the College of Business at NMSU, and also worked as a professional accountant in various capacities within the Office of the Vice President for Business & Finance. Prior to her employment with NMSU, Brenda worked in the areas of auditing and taxation in public accounting.
Brenda is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the Association of College & University Auditors, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the N.M. Society of CPAs (NMSCPAs). Brenda is a past member of the Board of Directors of the NMSCPAs and serves on the Education & Scholarship committee. She was selected to receive the Society’s “2003 Outstanding Member in Government Award”. Brenda is also a past President and Secretary/Treasurer of the Dona Ana Chapter of the NMSCPAs. She is a member of the President’s Cabinet and an ex-officio member of the Administrative Council at NMSU.
Diana joined the Office of Audit Services in January 2007. Diana is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Internal Auditor, with over 16 years of combined IT and IT Audit experience in the higher education, financial, retail/manufacturing, and utility industries, both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining NMSU, Diana worked as an IT Auditor with several organizations across the country including UTEP, Southern California Edison, Freddie Mac, Nike, and the El Paso Natural Gas Company. In addition, Diana worked as an Applications and Systems Programmer for Nielsen Clearing House, NMSU, and the El Paso Natural Gas Company, as well as a Project Manager on Nike’s global ERP implementation. Diana received a Bachelor of Business Analysis with a specialty in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University in 1986. Diana is a member of the Information Systems Audit & Control Association, the Institute of Internal Auditors, and the Association of College & University Auditors.
Ross was hired into the Office of Audit Services in June 2008 as an Audit Manager and Assistant Director. Ross is a graduate of New Mexico State University, where he earned the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate for the College of Business in December of 1999. Ross is a Certified Public Accountant and most recently worked in public accounting with Moss Adams, LLP in Albuquerque, NM. As an Audit Manager in Public Accounting, Ross performed audits of various New Mexico State Agencies, including institutions of Higher Education. Prior to Moss Adams, Ross worked in public accounting with KPMG LLP where he performed audits of various governmental and non-governmental agencies. Ross also has worked in private industry as a divisional controller for the First National Bank of Arizona.
Candace came to the Office of Audit Services in February 2007. She is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) with a Bachelor of Accountancy degree and a Masters in Business Administration. Prior to joining this office, Candace worked in NMSU’s Accounting and Financial Reporting department for three years as a Fiscal Monitor. She also worked six years as a Plant Accountant for Border Foods Inc., performing both managerial and financial accounting responsibilities. Candace is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, and a member of the Association of College & University Auditors.
Jim joined the Office of Audit Services in August 2008. He is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of accounting experience. Jim began his career as an auditor with the public accounting firm of Grant Thornton International and more recently was employed as Corporate Tax Director for two Fortune 500 Companies. Jim has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Taxation. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and past President of the Tax Executives Institute, Denver Chapter.
Gail has been a staff member of Audit Services since July 2001. She has a Bachelor in Criminal Justice with a minor in Accounting. In addition to performing investigations and managing the office, she maintains the departmental website and oversees the EthicsPoint hotline. Prior to joining Audit Services, Gail worked for the NMSU Police Department as a project specialist and later as a records specialist in the Parking Division. She serves on the University Student Discipline Committee, and is a member of the Association of College & University Auditors
Stephanie began employment with Audit Services in September 2008. She is in her junior year as an undergraduate, and anticipates completing her Bachelor of Accountancy in May 2010. Stephanie then plans to prepare for the CPA exam while pursuing a Master of Accountancy degree.