Student Spotlight: Madison Monroe

August 28, 2023

Madison Monroe grew up in Greenville, South Carolina and was attracted to Clemson by its “welcoming and familial atmosphere.” Although she started out as a math major, Monroe was curious about accounting and enrolled in an accounting class. She immediately “felt that accounting was the thing [her] brain was designed to do” and has since become “more and more excited” about a career in the profession. During the summer of her sophomore year, Monroe interned at a small firm in Duncan, S.C. that manages franchise restaurants in the upstate. This internship helped Monroe prepare for her upcoming internship at CURO Financial Technologies in Greenville, S.C.

Despite switching to the accounting program in her sophomore year, Monroe has been able to stay on track to graduate with an accounting degree in four years while also earning a math minor. The two classes that have stood out to Monroe the most during her time at Clemson are intermediate financial accounting II, taught by Terry Knause, and accounting information systems, taught by Phil Maiberger. These two classes allowed Monroe to better understand the linkages between her coursework and accounting in practice. Attesting to her hard work, Monroe was recently nominated for and awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the PCAOB Scholars Program.

While Monroe has used her time at Clemson to develop professional skills and interpersonal connections with her classmates and future employers that will serve her well in her future career as an auditor, she also has used her time to be active in extra-curricular activities. Despite arriving at Clemson during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Monroe has actively participated in intramural flag football and kickball. She has also volunteered with Solid Green by handing out recycling bags at football games, which reflects her passion for sustainability.

Although she never wanted to pursue a master’s degree, she is attracted to the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcc) program because it would allow her to continue her professional development through coursework while also preparing her for the CPA exam. Madison will take two master-level courses in the spring of her senior year and complete the MPAcc program in Greenville, S.C. after graduating with her undergraduate degree in May of 2024.