In hindsight, having his internship at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t have worked out better for Honors accounting student David Levine.
That disappointment opened the door for him to instead take a summer tax internship following his freshman year at LGA, an accounting firm based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Levine enjoyed his experience at LGA so much that he returned the following year for an eight-month co-op position with the enterprise tax group, and then again the following summer for another internship.
The Stoneham, Massachusetts, native plans to continue interning at LGA during his senior year — then start working at the firm full-time after completing his bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I love the people and the culture there,” says Levine, who credits managing partner (and accounting alum) John Geraci ’97 for setting the tone at LGA. “It’s not like what they make out an accounting firm to look like in the movies — it’s not this boring place that you dread going to. They really care about the community and the employees.”
Along with the affordable tuition, the Professional Cooperative Education program was the main reason Levine chose UML. While he originally wasn’t sure which business path he wanted to pursue, he zeroed in on his concentration after taking Financial Accounting with Assoc. Teaching Prof. Cassandra Rohland his first year.
“Her class just clicked with me. Everything made sense,” says Levine, who realized that accounting “is a puzzle — there’s not a clear-cut solution, but there’s always going to be a solution.”
Despite the disruption of the pandemic, Levine has managed to immerse himself in the college experience. He serves as finance chair for the Student Government Association and president of the Manning Leaders Council. He works as a resident advisor, drove shuttles for Transportation Services and was a member of the marching and hockey bands during his freshman year.
“UMass Lowell provides a ton of opportunities for students, but you have to be paying attention when they come,” he says. “You have to get involved and take advantage of them.”
Dean of Business Sandra Richtermeyer plays an invaluable role in providing those opportunities in the Manning School, says Levine, who also credits his advisor, Assoc. Teaching Prof. of Accounting Laura Christianson, for helping him succeed.
Levine has won numerous scholarships to help pay for his education, including a $5,000 Alliance Scholarship from the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, a $1,500 award from the Boston Chapter of Financial Executives International, a $1,500 UMass Lowell Learning in Retirement Association Student Scholarship and a Student Affairs Scholarship.
“They have been awesome in helping me get through my studies,” Levine says. “And once I’m in that position, I can return the favor and give back.”