A prominent London business leader known for his faith in the ‘virtuous cycle’ has put that belief into action by donating $1 million to the Ivey Business School which will support public policy and leadership education.
The Mitchell and Kathryn Baran Family Foundation and Trudell Medical Limited, both led by Mitch Baran, HBA ’59, made the donation, to recognize retiring Ivey Dean Carol Stephenson’s decade of leadership, to be used by the school at her discretion. Stephenson, who retires at the end of September, has directed the funds toward Ivey’s Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management.
The gift will support a Scholars Fund for recruiting academic visitors to the Centre as well as high-priority needs – such as student scholarships, faculty awards and research – at the Lawrence Centre. The Lawrence Centre is dedicated to bridging communications between the public and private sector and increasing collaboration through research, teaching and facilitating public discussion of key policy issues facing Canadian business and government.
Western president Amit Chakma announced the gift Wednesday along with members of the Baran family at a reception at Ivey Business School honouring Stephenson’s legacy of leadership.
Baran said he and his family are very pleased with Stephenson’s direction of the donation.
“I hope this creates an opportunity to profile the Lawrence Centre as an important Canadian and global public policy instrument,” he said.
Stephenson said the donation is a testament of Baran’s own commitment to leadership, which he has demonstrated through both his business acumen and community support.
“Mitch Baran is an accomplished and well-respected business leader who thinks globally, acts strategically and contributes to society – the kind of leader Ivey strives to develop,” Stephenson said. “His gift will go a long way to help us develop bright, future business leaders capable of improving Canada’s economic performance.”
Ivey Professor Paul Boothe, Lawrence Centre director, said the gift also demonstrates Stephenson’s dedication to public service.
“The Lawrence Centre is extremely grateful to the Mitchell and Kathryn Baran Family Foundation and Trudell Medical Limited for this generous gift. It will allow the Centre to continue its critical work in public policy education and leadership,” Boothe said. “It is particularly fitting that the gift is in honour of dean Stephenson’s leadership and contributions, given the benefits she has brought to the school through her relationships with all levels of government.”
