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Michael Owen (Photo: Supplied)

“Education is the best investment you can make — not only in your own life, but in the lives of others,” he says.

Owen’s belief in that investment began as a graduate student in the Faculty of Education in the 1970s. A first-generation university student from New Brunswick, he experienced firsthand how scholarships, bursaries and graduate assistantships could change the course of a life.

That same belief drives the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Shape the Future campaign, which prioritizes student success by expanding access to scholarships and bursaries — the kind of support that changed Owen’s own future.

It’s part of why he began giving back to the º£½ÇÉçÇø in 1985 — the same year he landed his first full-time post-graduate school position.

That early act of philanthropy marked the beginning of what would become a 40-year commitment to supporting future educators. In 2007, he began directing his gifts specifically to the Faculty of Education, deepening a relationship that continues to grow today.

Owen’s support has taken many forms — annual giving, endowed giving, monthly gifts and a planned bequest. “You don’t have to give a lot to make a difference,” he says. “Even the cost of a latte a week — pooled with others — can have a huge impact over time.”

In 2022, Owen served as a lead donor during the university’s inaugural Giving Day, his generosity serving as a powerful catalyst that inspired others to step forward and invest in a brighter future. He later established the Next Generation Award in Education Endowment in 2024, and has since continued monthly donations to the endowment. This consistent support, and the inclusion of the fund in his will, ensures continued impact to aspiring educators, now and into the future.

The award supports aspiring teachers — particularly those who may not otherwise be able to pursue post-secondary education — while helping diversify the profession. “We need students in the K–12 system to see themselves in the teachers who lead their classrooms,” Owen explains. “That means investing in future educators from Indigenous, LGBTQ, first-generation,  and immigrant communities, and individuals from equity-seeking groups.”

Owen’s own career in education has taken him across the country — from earning a PhD in the history of education, to teaching and leading research portfolios at multiple institutions, to serving as dean of education at both Ontario Tech and Brock University, where he recently retired. But he says his connection to the º£½ÇÉçÇø is foundational.

“It was the º£½ÇÉçÇø that opened the doors,” he says. “It changed my life.”

Owen hopes the Next Generation Award in Education will continue opening doors for aspiring teachers — especially those who may not otherwise see themselves represented in the profession. And while he’s proud to have supported his alma mater, he says the real story belongs to the students.

“The students are the best people to speak to the impact of any award,” he says. “Those of us who give like to think we’re making a difference — but the real story is theirs to tell.”