Susan G. Lowe ('95 Accounting)

2026 Service to Smeal Award

Sue currently serves as Executive Director in the Office of the Global Head of Audit at KPMG, where she works directly with the firm’s Global Head of Audit and Global Audit leadership team. In this role, she supports strategic initiatives and operations across KPMG’s global audit practice.

Previously, Sue was a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Philadelphia office, where she served asset management clients and real estate investment trusts. Earlier in her career, she played a key role in the start-up of KPMG’s Global Delivery Center in Bangalore, India. From 2008 to 2010, she supported U.S. engagement teams as the center grew exponentially in hours charged, expanded to serve all U.S. industry groups, and scaled to a workforce of more than 300 professionals.

Sue has remained deeply connected to Penn State University since her graduation and has been actively involved in recruiting students to KPMG. She served two terms on the Smeal Alumni Society Board. During that time, she played an active role on the Student Success Committee and later served as Vice Chair and Chair. Under her leadership, the committee advanced several high-impact initiatives, including Flash Networking, partnerships with the Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, expanded alumni speaker engagement, and continuous improvements to Impact Smeal Day.

Beyond board service, Sue’s volunteerism spans direct student engagement, regional alumni leadership, and classroom involvement. She is deeply committed to mentoring students one-on-one, participating in virtual networking and ethics conversations, reviewing applications for the Smeal Sapphire Leadership Academic Program, and speaking frequently in undergraduate classes, where faculty and students alike praise her real-world perspective and professionalism. Sue also dedicated nearly a decade to Smeal Club Philly, helping guide its vision, strengthen programming, and broaden alumni participation. Even after completing her Alumni Society Board term in 2023, she continues to return to campus regularly to support board meetings and Impact Smeal Day, exemplifying sustained dedication, generosity, and leadership in service to the Smeal community.

Within KPMG, she was a founding member of KNOW KPMG’s Network of Women and also served as KPMG’s representative on the Corporate Partners’ Board of the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia.

Her other community involvement includes serving as a board member, past board chair, and past treasurer of First Person Arts, a Philadelphia-based arts nonprofit. She has also been a member, choir member, past trustee, and past co-treasurer of Emilie United Methodist Church.

In her spare time, Sue enjoys traveling, attending concerts and cultural events, and supporting Penn State and Philadelphia sports teams.