What do Southwestern, football, Rice University, and KPMG have in common? Ethan Powell, a Pirate, Southwestern business graduate with a Master of Accounting degree from Rice, and a current employee at the “Big Four” accounting firm. As a Mason, Texas native, football has been a part of this accountant’s life for a while. When he followed his sister to Southwestern, he was already familiar with the program because she served as an equipment manager for the team. Looking back, it is the dinner conversations and friendships that stand out the most to him. Some of his favorite memories occurred at the Commons when players met after practice to socialize, where he loved sitting at community tables and talking with friends from different teams, majors, and backgrounds.

On the academic side, Ethan was interested in the business world and how successful organizations make decisions behind the scenes. As he explored different areas, he turned toward accounting as the foundation of business, which ultimately led him toward a career in audit. Citing its people as one of Southwestern’s greatest strengths, Ethan highlighted Dr. Debika Sihi, the John Shearn Chair and Professor of Business, who served as a mentor, role model, and friend. Connections within the business program enabled him to secure an audit internship with KPMG the summer before starting his master’s program. Beyond individual faculty who brought passion and expertise to the classroom, he also praised SU’s Center for Career & Professional Development.

Knowing several alumni who had completed the MAcc program at Rice, and leveraging Southwestern’s strong relationship with the university, Ethan felt confident he could succeed there while playing football for a third school. In between his Rice graduation and his start date as an audit associate, Ethan returned to Southwestern to serve as a tight ends coach for the Pirates, calling it a rewarding experience to give back to a university that invested so much in him. Currently, Ethan’s playbook involves working full-time and studying for the final two parts of the CPA licensing exam after work. His KPMG engagements within the energy, natural resources, and chemical industries have shown him firsthand how the concepts he learned at SU and Rice apply to organizations operating on a global scale.