UNT System

UNT System

internal audit

STAFF biographies

       

UNT's Internal Auditors have diverse educational backgrounds. All have at least a Bachelor's degree and experience in business or higher education prior to joining the Internal Audit Department and some have MBA degrees. Contact Us...

   
 

Donald Holdegraver, CIA, CFE
System Chief Internal Auditor (940) 565-2355 donald.holdegraver@unt.edu
Don Holdegraver has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and over 32 years experience in facilitating change is organizations, including 27 years in higher education and healthcare. Don is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Inspector General (CIG), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Prior to joining UNT in 2006, Don led internal audit functions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of South Florida, Saint Louis University and Health Sciences Center, St Francis Regional Medical Center (KS), and The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. He also held positions in financial services internal auditing and in public accounting. In his off time, Don enjoys digital and film photography, mountain biking, and attending NASCAR races.

 

Susan Edwards, CIA, CICA
Director of Internal Audit - UNT Denton (940) 565-2153 susan.edwards@unt.edu
Susan Edwards has been a member of Internal Audit since 1992 when she joined the department as an Audit Intern. She currently serves as Director of Internal Audit for the University of North Texas campus. Susan is a 1992 graduate of the University of North Texas with a B.S. and a M.S. in Accounting, and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA).

 

Gary W. Pankake, CIA, CFSA
Assistant Director of Internal Audit - UNT Denton
(940) 565-4903 gary.pankake@unt.edu
Gary W. Pankake joined the Internal Audit group in March 2009. Gary has a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of North Florida. Gary is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA).Professional work experience prior to UNT includes 12 years of public and private auditing and accounting. Gary is a member of The Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of College and University Auditors, and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

 

Carissa Baughman
Auditor II (940) 565-2153 carissa.baughman@unt.edu
Carissa Baughman joined UNT Internal Audit in November 2006 as an Auditor II. Previously, she was the Business Manager for the College of Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, where she handled all aspects of the college’s budget. Carissa graduated from the University of North Texas in 2004 with a B.B.A in Finance and she has a M.B.A. from Texas Woman’s University. She is a member of the Association of College and University Auditors and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

 

Joe Diaz, CIA
Auditor III (940) 369-8467 joseph.diaz@unt.edu
Joe Diaz joined the Internal Audit department in July 2009. He has been an internal audit professional for the last 12 years including eight years in public accounting. Joe holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). He is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and was the Co-Chair for the Research Project Committee for the Dallas Chapter in 2008 and 2009.

 

Nicole Eleazar, CIA, CGAP
Auditor II (940) 565-2153 nicole.eleazar@unt.edu
Nicole Eleazar joined UNT Internal Audit in June 2008 as an Auditor II.  Nicole has been an employee with the University of North Texas for over eight years.  She has worked in Purchasing and Payment Services, Student Accounting, and the Office of Research Services.  Nicole has a B.A. in Sociology from UNT and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP). She is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Association of College and University Auditors.

 

Belinda Firth
Administrative Services Officer (940) 565-2153 belinda.firth@unt.edu
Belinda Firth is Administrative Services Officer and provides support to all Internal Audit Staff. She joined the auditor’s office in November 2007. Belinda has been at UNT for 9 years and for 8 of those years worked as Administrative Assistant to the Department of Mathematics. Her combined experience includes more than 15 years in administration.

 

Andrea Lillie
Auditor II (940) 565-2153 andrea.lillie@unt.edu
Andrea Lillie joined the Internal Audit staff in June 2007 as an Internal Auditor II. Prior to working for UNT System, Andrea worked in UNT’s Human Resource Department and Purchasing and Payment Services. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a B.A. in Psychology, and received a Master's of Public Administration from UNT in May 2009. Andrea is a current member of The Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of College and University Auditors, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

 

Bernest J. Lott, Jr. CFE, CICA
Auditor III (940) 565-2153 bernestj.lott@unt.edu
Bernest J. Lott, Jr. is an Internal Auditor III. He holds a BBA in accounting from the University of North Texas, and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA). He joined the Internal Audit Department in March 1997. Previously, he served for 19 years with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts as auditor, audit group supervisor, field audit manager, and regional director. He is a member of five professional organizations, and in off hours is engaged in various UNT and community activities and affiliations, and enjoys reading, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

 

John P. McDermott, CIA, CICA
Auditor III (940) 565-2153 john.mcdermott@unt.edu
John P. McDermott is an Internal Auditor III. John has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Niagara University, and an M.B.A. in Administrative Management from the University of North Texas. John joined the Internal Audit department in August 1998, and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Internal Control Auditor (CICA). Professional work experience prior to UNT includes 23 years with three Fortune 500 companies. Outside of work, John is a member of five professional associations and enjoys outings and events with family and friends.

 

Alfred (Al) Winder
Auditor II (940) 565-2153 w.alfred.winder@unt.edu
Alfred (Al) Winder received BBA in 1988 from UNT. Al began working for UNT System Internal Audit in May 2005. Prior to joining UNT, Al’s experience includes tax preparation, bookkeeping, and as Controller for a small business. A Capricorn who is very relaxed and laid back, Al is married to a “wonderful woman” and has two elementary school-aged children. After work, Al enjoys attending UNT football games, children’s soccer games, and training his family’s new golden retriever puppy named Annie.

 
Health Science Center - Ft. Worth Office..............................................
 
 

Laurel Slezak, CPA, CFE
Director - HSC (817) 735-2060 lslezak@hsc.unt.edu
Laurel Slezak joined HSC's audit staff as Director in November 2007 after serving as UNT's Associate Director Financial Reporting. Previously, Ms Slezak was Director Investor Relations, Manager Corporate Modeling, and Internal Audit Manager for NICOR Inc, and has audit and accounting experience in manufacturing, banking, and municipal government. She received a BSC from DePaul University in Chicago, IL and is a registered CPA in Illinois. Ms Slezak is a licensed Texas Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Illinois CPA Society, Association of Healthcare Internal Auditors, Certified Fraud Examiners, Association of College and University Auditors, and National College and University Research Administrators.

 

Dennis Pavlas, CICA
Assistant Director - HSC (817) 735-2165 dpavlas@hsc.unt.edu
Dennis Pavlas is the Assistant Director of Internal Audit at the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Dennis has been a member of Internal Audit since 1987. He also was employed for seven years with the Texas State Auditor’s Office performing college and university audits. Dennis earned a BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University and holds the professional designation of Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA). Professional associations include: Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA); Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA); Texas Association of College and University Auditors (TACUA); and The Institute for Internal Controls (IIC).

 

Catrina Schmittou
Internal Auditor II - HSC (817) 735-0440 cschmitt@hsc.unt.edu
Catrina Schmittou is an Internal Auditor II at the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Before joining Internal Audit in June 2008, she was a Training Coordinator and Internal Audit Team Leader for the Bank of Tennessee in Johnson City, TN. Catrina also worked for the UNT Payroll Office in Denton for six years with positions ranging from Student Assistant to Accounting Clerk III. She received her B.B.A. in General Business from UNT.

 

Michael C. Humphries, CIA, CMA
Internal Auditor III - HSC (817) 735-2167 mhumphri@hsc.unt.edu
Michael Humphries is an Auditor III for the Heath Science Center. He joined the audit staff in March 2009. Previously, Mr. Humphries was the Director of Internal Audit at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah and a Senior Auditor at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He also worked as an Accountant for Dixie State Collage of Utah. He has a
B.S. degree in Accounting from Southern Utah University and a MBA degree from Weber State University. Mr. Humphries is a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Management Accountant. Professional associations include: Institute of Internal Auditors; Association of College and University Auditors; and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants.

 

Cindy York, CPA
Internal Auditor III – HSC (817) 735-2293 ciyork@hsc.unt.edu
Cindy York is an Internal Auditor III at the UNT Health Science Center. Cindy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting Control Systems from UNT. Before joining Internal Audit in July 2009, Cindy was the Director of Internal Audit at Cook Children’s Healthcare System.  She also worked for Harris Methodist Healthcare System as Senior Internal Auditor and Controller of the Harris Methodist Foundation. Other positions held were as CFO and Controller of nonprofit organizations. Cindy is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), an Audit Command Language (ACL) Certified Data Analyst (ACDA) and a Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA). Professional organizations include: Texas Society of CPA’s (TSCPA), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Institute of Internal Controls (IIC) and the Association of Healthcare Internal Auditors (AHIA). 

 


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