Five questions for Mari Dennis

Mari Dennis joined CU system administration's Internal Audit last year as a fiscal misconduct investigator. She also is coordinator for the CU EthicsLine, which provides employees with a simple, anonymous way of reporting concerns or suspected misconduct. In this role, Dennis reviews each submission before identifying the appropriate campus office or official and routing the report to them for review.

"I remain available as a resource throughout the review process, providing support to the reviewer, if needed, or helping to facilitate communication with them and an anonymous reporter," Dennis said. "The CU EthicsLine platform allows me to communicate with reporters through messaging or live chat while maintaining their anonymity."

Away from work, Dennis makes the most of free time with her family, likely on the go most weekends for activities and events. She also enjoys reading, cooking, baking and gardening.

1. Before coming to CU, you worked in victim advocacy. How does that experience inform your work in investigating fiscal misconduct?

My background is in victim advocacy, where I spent 16 years working directly with crime victims and survivors, and later in leadership roles overseeing a law enforcement victim advocacy unit and a nonprofit victim services organization. In those roles, I regularly navigated complex and sensitive situations, supported people through difficult experiences and worked closely with law enforcement on investigations. I was also responsible for helping assess concerns and making sure policies and procedures were followed. That combination of experience led me to my current role and has shaped how I approach this work.

My background in victim advocacy involved supporting victims and survivors in the aftermath of crime by providing on-scene crisis support and safety planning, helping them navigate the criminal justice process and connecting them with resources to meet their needs. Over time, I transitioned into leadership positions where I supported and led teams of victim service professionals and helped to ensure programs were operating effectively and meeting the needs of crime victims and survivors.

I think that experience impacts the way I conduct investigations. I approach sensitive situations with care, listen closely, remain impartial and assess information objectively. Because victim advocacy is grounded in treating people with fairness, dignity and respect, I bring that same approach to my work, particularly when interviewing witnesses and subjects.

2. What does your role in Internal Audit entail and how does your work support the CU system?

My role in Internal Audit (IA) focuses on overseeing the CU EthicsLine system and investigating fiscal misconduct allegations. As the CU EthicsLine coordinator, I route reports submitted through the system to the appropriate offices so they can be reviewed and addressed.

When reports involve potential fiscal misconduct, they are reviewed by IA investigators to determine whether an investigation is warranted. In this role, I also track and report CU EthicsLine activity on a quarterly basis to the Board of Regents Audit Committee. I report on trends in report volume, issue categories, outcomes and reporting across campuses.

As a fiscal misconduct investigator, I conduct investigations to determine whether fiscal misconduct has occurred under Regent Policy 13.E.2, focusing on whether the evidence supports a finding and whether there was intent to obtain an unauthorized benefit.

This work supports the CU system by encouraging individuals to voice concerns and promoting accountability and transparency. I truly believe that when people feel heard and their concerns are addressed, it strengthens trust across the university. I find it meaningful to serve as a conduit, helping to connect people's concerns to individuals who can thoughtfully address them.

Additionally, in my role as a fiscal misconduct investigator, I enjoy examining details, following facts and gaining an understanding of what occurred. I find reward in helping to protect university resources that ultimately support students, faculty and staff.

3. How do all employees at CU play a role in the university's commitment to ethics and compliance?

Employees play a role by simply speaking up when something doesn't seem right by being willing to raise questions and share concerns. It is all our role to maintain a culture of integrity.

Regent Policy 8.A.9 emphasizes this role by highlighting that employees have a shared responsibility to report known or suspected violations of policies, laws and regulations. The policy also provides whistleblower protections, meaning individuals reporting concerns in good faith are protected from retaliation. When employees take the step to report, it allows university officials to review concerns and respond in a thoughtful and appropriate way.

Concerns vary widely and are grouped into categories such as academic or research integrity, business integrity, environmental health and safety, and human resources. For example, academic or research concerns could include allegations of plagiarism or improper research practices. Business integrity issues could include possible misuse of university funds, time abuse or conflicts of interest. Environmental health and safety reports might relate to substance abuse, unsafe lab conditions or noncompliance with safety protocols. Human resources concerns can involve issues like workplace harassment, discrimination or policy violations by employees.

4. What might you say to an employee who notices something that doesn't seem right, but isn't sure whether it rises to the level of reporting?

I would encourage them to consider submitting a Guidance Request through the CU EthicsLine system. This option allows individuals to share a concern and ask for advice on how to handle a situation without filing an actual report. It's a helpful way to get guidance if someone is unsure whether to report, and they can still choose to remain anonymous.

A common misconception is that nothing will be done if a concern is reported. In reality, every report submitted is reviewed and routed to the appropriate office for follow-up within 24 hours. Depending on the complexity of a matter, some cases can take an extended amount of time to review and address, and specific details about the resolution of a case are not always shared due to confidentiality. However, each report is taken seriously and addressed as appropriate.

Another misconception that some individuals have is that they worry that their identity will be exposed, even if they choose to remain anonymous. The CU EthicsLine is hosted by a third-party provider, which helps protect privacy. The system does not gather identifying information for those who select anonymity when submitting a report. Even within IA, we don't know who anonymous reporters are. And because the system does not ask for identifying information for anonymous reporters, we have no way of knowing identities.

5. What is one takeaway about ethical responsibility in the workplace that you can leave us with?

If I could leave one takeaway, it would be that everyone plays a role in creating an ethical workplace.

If something doesn't feel right, I would encourage people to speak up in whatever way feels most comfortable. This could be discussing concerns with a direct supervisor or a professor or utilizing one of the other campus reporting options. The CU EthicsLine is another valuable resource that the university provides, especially for those who are unsure where to report or prefer to stay anonymous.