Overview
As the Director of Internal Audit Services at WSU, Chris Cavanaugh provides internal audit services to the university president, vice presidents, deans, directors, department chairs, and others. Mr. Cavanaugh began his appointment in 1991 and has worked under six presidents, including our current president, Dr. Rick Muma.
Cavanaugh explains that internal auditing involves both assurance and advisory components. Confidence that information is reliable, a process is working effectively, or a compliance requirement is satisfied. If not, how can we work together to improve internal control?
Cavanaugh earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Pittsburg State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), honing his knowledge of risks and control processes.
Before coming to WSU, Mr. Cavanaugh worked eight years as an internal auditor for the Farm Credit Bank of Wichita, advancing to Associate Vice President for Internal Audit. He also has public accounting experience and taught managerial accounting at Pittsburg State and Wichita State.
Cavanaugh serves on the Campus Credit Union board of directors as its treasurer and as a member of its Executive Committee. He previously chaired the credit union's Supervisory Committee.
Cavanaugh grew up in the west Wichita suburb of Goddard. A Shocker fan at a young age, he regularly listened to WSU football and basketball games on the radio, going to games with his dad or friends whenever he could.
After college, he returned to Goddard, where he and his wife, Mary Kay, raised four children. They enjoy long walks with their dog Bailey on the "rails to trails" path near their home.