Farley Faculty Member Joshua Lance Passes Away

Lance was a leader in startup accounting and finance for entrepreneurs

Joshua Lance, adjunct lecturer at the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Master of Engineering Management program at Northwestern Engineering, passed away on October 21. Lance will be remembered as an exceptionally devoted mentor and teacher, and an unwavering champion for aspiring student entrepreneurs.  

Lance joined the Farley Center faculty in 2016. An accounting veteran, Lance brought his expertise to accounting seminars and the course Financial Foundations for Entrepreneurs and Innovators. In the Farley classroom, he taught students about the importance of startup finances, why accounting matters, how to find funding for startup ideas, and how accounting ties into building a strong entrepreneurial team. 

“We are deeply saddened by this terrible loss,” said Hayes Ferguson, director of the Farley Center. “Josh was a well-respected and beloved member of our community. Not only was he able to share his considerable knowledge with students in a clear and interesting way, he enjoyed a reputation among the Farley staff for being extremely likeable and easy to work with.” 

"I had the privilege of teaching with Josh for over five years at Northwestern and got to see firsthand the impact he had on hundreds of students,” said Curt Mastio, Farley faculty member. “Josh had a special way of making everyone feel welcome. He cared personally about students beyond just the classroom and often provided ongoing mentorship to former students turned entrepreneur. Those that were lucky to have met Josh won't be surprised to hear that, because he gave to others in abundance throughout his life and did so with no expectation of reciprocity.  That is just the type of person Josh was.  His presence will be missed but his profound impact will live on in the many he influenced during his time with us.” 

“Josh was my undergraduate professor, then mentor, and then CPA through multiple businesses,” said Lucas Philips, who graduated from Northwestern in 2019. “I learned so much from him. He was always patient and generous with his time with me and my peers at Northwestern. We've truly lost a wonderful human being.”

Lance was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Illinois, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) with experience helping startups grow and develop through personalized accounting, tax preparation, and coaching services.  

Lance worked as the managing director of Lance CPA LLC, a tech-focused boutique accounting firm. His previous work included more than a decade of accounting and auditing experience at top-10 national public accounting firms, including Diversified Financial Management Corp., N Pritzker Capital Management LLC, and Crowe Horwath LLP. He also served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont, where he taught a class in the Business of Craft Beer program. He earned a bachelor of science from Miami University. 

Lance’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 28, at 10:30 a.m. at Hinsdale Covenant Church.