UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has named Eric Miller as its new director of internal audit, effective Jan. 2, 2024, following a national search. Miller has more than 20 years of experience in risk-based governance and internal auditing, which includes working with public and private companies, state and local governments, and institutions of higher education.
Miller succeeds Daniel Heist, who will retire from Penn State at the end of December after serving as director of internal audit for the past 20 years.
“I am thrilled to welcome Eric to Penn State and excited to have a professional of his caliber join our already talented internal auditing team,” said Sara Thorndike, Penn State senior vice president for Finance and Business/treasurer. “Eric has a strong record of leading the design and execution of financial, operational, regulatory and internal audit plans; implementing compliance requirements and frameworks; and driving continuous improvements across a variety of organizations and sectors, which will serve him well in his role here at Penn State.
“I also want to thank Dan Heist for his many years of service to the University and for his exemplary leadership of the Office of Internal Audit for the last two decades. The office is well positioned for continued success as a trusted University-wide partner under Eric’s leadership because of the culture of integrity and professionalism that Dan instilled throughout his tenure.”
As director, Miller will lead a team of professionals with University-wide responsibility to conduct audits and special investigations. Miller will set the strategic goals and vision for the Office of Internal Audit, establish the office’s audit plan each fiscal year and oversee its execution, and ensure that the office maintains compliance with industry standards and conducts audits independently and objectively.
Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees’ Committee on Audit and Risk and administratively to the senior vice president for Finance and Business/treasurer, Miller will be a key collaborator with the associate vice president for budget and finance with respect to University internal controls, the chief risk officer with respect to the University’s enterprise risk management efforts, and the chief ethics and compliance officer with respect to the University’s ethics and compliance programs. He also will provide primary staff support to the Committee on Audit and Risk, including the development of agendas and supporting information for the committee’s meetings.
“With a career dedicated to the field of internal audit, risk and governance, I have worked across the public and private sectors with an intentional focus on the principles of stewardship and service,” Miller said. “It is with these shared values in mind that I am honored to accept the role of director of internal audit at Penn State. I am excited to partner with the University community across the campuses and work together as stewards of the responsibilities and resources to which we have been entrusted.”
Prior to joining Penn State, Miller provided specialized consulting services in the areas of governance, risk and compliance for clients in both the public and private sectors. In this role, he assisted clients in building and operating high-performing internal audit functions, as well as business risk and control systems with a focus on pragmatic innovation. Prior to his latest consulting work, Miller served for six years as the director of ethics, compliance and audit for North Dakota State University in Fargo. He also has held business risk and internal audit roles with RSM in Seattle, Washington, and the Boulay Group, Baker Tilly, Arthur Andersen and Prudential Financial, all in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Miller received his bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He is active in the internal audit community, having previously served as a volunteer instructor for the Institute of Internal Auditors, as well as an instructor through the University of Minnesota’s continuing education programs for the Certified Internal Auditor exam preparation course.
Outside of work, Miller and his family enjoy participating in school and community activities and look forward to becoming active members of State College area organizations and the community.