FAITH E. LAMPREY, a full-time practitioner faculty member in accountancy at Providence College, donated $500,000 to the School of Business to fund the creation of a computer laboratory, establish a Data Analytics Fellows Program and support the Transitions Program, a preorientation summer program for multicultural and first-generation students who enter the school. Her donation will allow PC to purchase 40 computers, eight flatscreen TVs and a central pod for instructors. Lamprey, who has been teaching at PC since 2013, was awarded the Dean’s Award for teaching excellence last spring. She earned an MBA in management science from the University of Rhode Island in 1977, then worked at Arthur Young & Co. and Daly & Wolcott Inc. before starting Aurora Technologies in 1996, which later became Aurora Technologies/EDI Support Inc., which she sold in 2019. Lamprey worked as a computer auditor, systems analyst and programmer, and computer consultant before starting her own company.
What was the catalyst that led you to make such a sizable donation to the school? When I sold Aurora Technologies, I realized that I now had the funds to give back in a meaningful way and felt it was time for me to do that. Providence College has been so supportive of me and is such an amazing place, I could not think of a better place for this gift.
What made you transition from a computer consulting business to teaching business at Providence College? I always taught part-time and found I enjoyed working with the students. Selling one of my businesses gave me time to teach more classes.
Is teaching business part of your “giving back” since you have achieved success in the business world? It is important to share real-world experiences with students. It is great that the Providence College business school utilizes some practitioner faculty, like me, to bring their experiences in the business world into the classroom.
What have you learned from the business world that you emphasize when teaching data applications in business to your students? Attention to detail is very important in business and my class is definitely very detailed. We take a deep dive into [Microsoft] Excel and the students must learn to check their work for accuracy and completeness before submitting it. We talk a lot about what a company expects from their employees and how to achieve success in their careers.
What plans or innovative ideas do you hope to implement in the future? Providence College is now a certified Microsoft testing center, and I am pleased to have added Microsoft Excel certification testing into my class this year. Over the next year, I look forward to working with Dean [Sylvia] Maxfield to develop the Data Analytics Fellows Program to assist students in growing their skills in using technology to analyze data to help companies make decisions, solve problems and grow their businesses.
