Retiree Spotlight – Toni Stephens, CPA, CIA, CRMA

June 27, 2026

“I’ve been an ACUA member since I started at UTD in 1992, and my first conference was at the Midyear Conference in Orlando. I absolutely loved the professional education, collaboration, and camaraderie that ACUA provided, as it helped me become a better auditor and a better audit leader. I started to volunteer for ACUA as a proctor, then went on to become a track coordinator, director of the annual conference, PEC Chair, board member, president, recognition committee chair, speaker, mentor, and the historian. The best value I’ve received from ACUA has been the incredible memories made from the many friends and colleagues I’ve met, especially those who will be lifelong friends even after retirement.”

Professional Background
Toni Stephens began her career in the Texas State Auditor’s Office (SAO) in Dallas. During the seven years in the SAO, most of Toni’s time was spent working in higher education, but she had the opportunity to work on other various state agencies, such as the Departments of Public Safety and Criminal Justice, The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and several highway and health and human services departments. These projects as well as increased audit experience gave Toni the opportunity to travel the State of Texas.

At the end of her tenure with the SAO, Toni worked on audits at Texas Tech University in Lubbock for about nine months. Around that time, Toni was concluding a statewide audit engagement at University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) when at the exit meeting the Vice President asked if she would be interested in applying for Director of Internal Audit position. Having always enjoyed the quiet UTD campus of about 8,000 students and being tired of the travel, Toni jumped at the chance and started working at UTD in March 1992. Toni thought she would be at UTD for a few years but then came marriage and two kids. Toni loved the work-life balance UTD made possible, and the university kept changing at such a fast pace that she was never bored. Toni has seen the campus grow from 8,000 students to over 30,000. UTD is no longer that quiet little campus it was 34 years ago.

Why retire? Plans for the future?
Jealousy is fueling Toni’s desire to retire. With retired friends, Toni was jealous and was ready to enjoy the next phase of her life while she can be active.

Toni says she does not know what plans she has other than not setting an alarm. Toni commented that “a very wise ACUA retiree recommended that I take six months to figure it out. So that’s what I’m doing! And along the way, I’d enjoy doing a few QARs or presentations, and perhaps finishing the scrapbooking projects I have had sitting in my spare room for about 20 years!”

Toni’s Advice for ACUA Members
“Get those ribbons! Getting involved in your profession by volunteering is the best way to become a better auditor and a better leader. The value you gain from both networking and collaborating with others, especially in person, is so much more meaningful than any training class you attend.”