Name: Allie Summerville 

Major: Accounting (BBA and MAcc) 

Hometown: Harrisburg, PA 

Graduating senior Allie Summerville has masterfully navigated the currents of Temple University’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs as an accounting major. 

As a distinguished member of the women’s rowing team and the president of Beta Alpha Psi, she has not only achieved academic excellence but has also harnessed the discipline and resilience of competitive sports to propel her career in accountancy forward.  

Her exemplary leadership and analytical prowess have led her to a promising role as an audit associate at KPMG post-graduation. 

Summerville accelerated her undergraduate studies, earning her degree magna cum laude with a 3.9 GPA in just three years, driven by a clear vision for her career. 

"I was the first in my family to go the traditional college route, and I was navigating it on my own,” she says. “I didn’t have someone there to guide me through that.” 

Her determination found a home at Temple, chosen for its strong combination of affordability and opportunity, giving Summerville access to Philadelphia’s vibrant job market. 

Her tenure on the rowing team was pivotal in her growth, teaching her to steer through challenges with the same precision required for successful audits.  

Despite undergoing two knee surgeries, she persisted, mastering the art of balancing her coursework with a rigorous training schedule. 

"It was the earliest I’ve worked in my life," she says of athletic regimen. "It changes your perspective on the day, if you’re up just after 5:30 a.m. and have your workouts done before an 8 a.m. class." 

As president of Beta Alpha Psi, Summerville leveraged her leadership to bridge connections between her peers and industry leaders from prominent spaces like the Big Four accounting firms, which enhanced their professional networks and opened up new opportunities. 

"Our members got to meet directly with the people they wanted to work for,” she says. “It was a great way to pass down the knowledge," she says. 

Her internship at Tait Weller, a leader in mutual audits, further honed her technical skills and solidified her career aspirations. She played a key role in several auditing projects, applying her analytical acumen to real-world financial challenges. 

Summerville’s advice to incoming freshmen is to embrace every opportunity with the vigor of a rower facing the open water. 

"Seize every opportunity that you’re given, don’t be afraid to try out new things,” she says. “I didn’t row before college, and now I can put that I’m a D1 athlete on my resume.” 

As she prepares to embark on her professional journey with KPMG, Summerville is equipped not just with academic knowledge and professional experience, but with the enduring spirit of a competitive athlete—ready to make waves in the world of accounting.  

“Don’t think you’re not ready for things,” she says. “Everyone wants you to succeed. You just have to show up and put the effort in to get there."