A Win-Win for 'Winternships'

It doesn’t matter if it’s Deloitte, EY, PwC, or KPMG: Competition for summer internships at any of the Big Four accounting firms can be fierce. And no wonder: Those internships often lead directly to job offers following graduation.

It’s much easier to get what’s called a “winternship” during the school year. Since most students are in school, there are more openings available. The problem is, it’s a lot more work since students have to juggle classes with what’s basically a full-time job.

But back in 2022, Accounting Professor Tracey Riley devised a solution: Working with the dean’s office, she arranged to have the Sawyer Business School offer three credits to any students who secured a winternship, whether at a Big Four firm or any of a number of midsize firms in the Boston area. The winternship program has been so successful that of the more than 48 students who have completed their winternships, almost all have been hired by the firms where they intern; another 18 students are currently “winterning” this spring.

That’s one reason why dozens of alumni, friends, and colleagues gathered to honor Riley at a January surprise party—and to announce two new funds totaling $225,000. One fund will support winternship students, the other will create the Tracey Riley Legacy Fund for faculty development.

Riley thought she had been invited to attend a small fundraising event for the program. Turns out the funds had already been raised in secret, so she was initially confused, then visibly overwhelmed as the evening progressed. “I was as surprised as I think I’ll ever be when they announced the gifts,” she said.

Supporters of the winternship fund include Paul Nasser, MBA ’98; Craig King, BSBA ’81; Stephen MacDonald, MBA ’02; and Dat Minh Le, BSBA ’12, MSA ’13, who thanked Riley for helping him shift careers from finance to accounting and, later, opening his own accounting firm. “I tell Tracey this all the time,” Le said. “I owe 100% of my success to Suffolk University and to her.”

In addition to the winternship fund, former Suffolk Director of Major Gifts Matt Borrello, who worked closely with Riley over his seven years in the University’s Division of Advancement, established the Tracey Riley Legacy Fund, which will support Sawyer Business School faculty initiatives, including stipends for research, travel expenses to conferences, and other academic endeavors.

“I felt there was a need to do something for Suffolk faculty,” says Borrello. “Like Tracey, they are dedicated to their work and giving so much of their time to students and connecting with alumni.”

The evening also included remarks from Suffolk President Marisa Kelly and Sawyer Business School Dean Amy Zeng, who thanked Riley “for inspiring our current students and alumni, and also our future students.”

Riley is the first to say she hates the spotlight—but also the first to say she will do anything to support the Sawyer Business School. “I’m incredibly moved that alumni would step up to help our students and faculty so generously. Moved—but not surprised. It’s a very Suffolk thing to do.”

If you'd like to contribute to the Accounting Winternships Program, please visit the Suffolk Giving page.