Pace recently lost a dedicated professor, Dr. Barbara Farrell, who taught accounting. Dr. Farrell was a certified public accountant. Her professional experience included working at well-known public accounting firms and at private companies, where she served as Chief Audit Executive.
Dr. Farrell obtained her B.B.A. and her M.B.A. in Public Accounting from Pace University. She also earned her EdD from Columbia University.
Dr. Farrell started her teaching career at Pace in 1980 as an adjunct professor. In 1984, she became a full-time professor. Professor Farrell taught courses in Auditing, Accounting Information Systems, Forensic Accounting, and Internal Auditing, both in person and online.
In addition to teaching students important concepts in accounting, Professor Farrell helped students succeed in their personal and professional lives. Dr. Farrell taught students about having important values. Her obituary states that Professor Farrell’s “lessons were not only about numbers and balance sheets, but about resilience, generosity, and believing in oneself.”
Dr. Farrell also helped students in their careers. Her obituary also states that Professor Farrell “mentored hundreds of students over the years, many of whom credit her with shaping their careers and their character.”
Dr. Farrell also made a strong impact on students outside the classroom. According to a statement from Ajay Khorana, Dean of the Lubin School of Business, Professor Farrell “chaired the decennial Middle States Review, served on the Audit Committee of the Pace University Board of Trustees, chaired the Westchester Faculty Council Curriculum Committee, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academic Federal Credit Union.”
Dr. Farrell also helped make education for accounting students more affordable through scholarships. The press release states, “She hosted accounting scholarship dinners each semester, developed the Deloitte classrooms, and led a campaign with the Big 4 resulting in more than $700,000 in scholarships for accounting students, an enduring legacy of opportunity and access.”
In 2024, Professor Farrell was given a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, one of Pace’s highest honors, for her dedication to teaching, service, scholarship, and her noteworthy contributions to Pace.
In addition to mentoring students, Professor Farrell was devoted to helping animals. The obituary states, “She was a passionate supporter of animal rescue organizations and devoted time and resources to volunteer groups that cared for dogs and other animals.”
Dr. Farrell enjoyed spending time with her son, Brandon Downing. The “Legacy” website states, “They shared a special bond filled with watching football games, good food, cherished friends, and, most of all, endless laughter.”
Professor Farrell was close to her family. Her obituary states that she “is survived by her beloved son, Brandon Downing…her brothers, Ray and Kevin Farrell; her sister, Carolanne; and her mother, Ruth Farrell. Her family was the center of her heart, and her love for them was boundless.”
Donations may be made in memory of Professor Farrell to Pets Alive, the SPCA of Westchester, or any charity that you may want to donate to.
“Giving to others was one of her greatest joys, and supporting causes that care for animals and people alike reflects the generosity and kindness that defined her life.”