UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Mauricio Jimenez will join Penn State’s Office of Ethics and Compliance as the University’s new investigations compliance specialist, effective Jan. 4.

Jimenez brings nearly three decades of investigative experience to Penn State, and comes to the University having most recently served as the assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) district office in Columbus, Ohio. 

In his role as Penn State’s new investigations compliance specialist, Jimenez will develop, implement and support programs and policies involving the investigation of non-compliant activity across the University. He will work directly with stakeholders across the University on compliance-related investigations, and will also oversee the University’s Ethics and Compliance hotline -- including developing hotline training and educational materials for members of the Penn State community, as well as overseeing the completion and documentation of all matters reported through the hotline.

“I am excited to welcome Mauricio to the Office of Ethics and Compliance, and look forward to working closely together to continue helping Penn State maintain its commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards,” said Penn State Director of Ethics and Compliance Kenya Mann Faulkner. “Mauricio’s extensive experience in law enforcement and investigation, as well as his outstanding leadership skills and his commitment to the advancement of ethics in the workplace, will help the Office of Ethics and Compliance continue to advance its charge to uphold the ethical culture of our University.”

 Jimenez’s other duties will include: 

• Implementing a case management process that includes standard investigation processes and consistent investigation record creation while affording fairness for all parties involved in compliance investigations; 

• Consulting with units across the University on investigative questions and processes, in addition to directly assisting with and conducting investigations; 

• Developing metrics to measure and evaluate the progress and success of Penn State’s investigative processes; and

• Reviewing and updating University policy and procedure in accordance with legal or regulatory updates and current best practices in coordination with partner units including Human Resources, the Risk Management Office, the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Internal Audit.

An alumnus of Penn State, Jimenez holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Over his 22-year-long career with the DEA, he directed multiple high-profile and complex investigations targeting major drug trafficking operations and urban organized crime networks. He also previously served in the U.S. Army, where he served internationally and domestically in the Military Police Corps and as a special agent in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.