Mike Barry '79

Champions of Giving: Mike Barry '79

Meet the Donor

Dr. Michael Barry ’79 has been part of Austin Prep for nearly 50 years, first as a student and later as an alumnus, volunteer, trustee, and donor. His relationship with the school has grown across decades of service, but at its core is something simple and lasting: gratitude for the education and formation he received here, and a desire to help ensure that future students have an even stronger experience.

Mike still remembers his first introduction to Austin Prep. “I went to public schools through 8th grade, and one Friday night in 8th grade, my father said, ‘You should go to bed a little bit earlier. Austin Prep’s entrance exam is on 8 o’clock tomorrow morning.’” He had heard of the school but had never visited before that day. “The first time I came to the school wasn’t for the tour that you have now,” he said. “It was for the entrance exam.”

When Mike arrived as a student in the fall of 1975, Austin Prep looked very different than it does today. Still, the experience left a deep impression on him. He said the school delivered on its promise to prepare students for college and for life. “The selling point for the school back then was, we will give your sons study habits and get them ready for college,” Mike said. “The school absolutely did that in my era at the school.” He credits Austin Prep with teaching him how to think critically and preparing him well for a demanding engineering program at UMass Lowell. “Austin really did get me ready for college,” he said.

That foundation helped shape the course of his professional life. Mike began his career as an engineer, later earned an M.B.A. and Ph.D. from Boston College, and went on to spend 30 years teaching full-time in BC’s finance department. Through it all, Austin Prep remained a meaningful part of his story.

The Inspiration to Give

 

Mike’s commitment to Austin Prep grew out of the experience he had here as a student and the belief that the school should keep growing stronger for the students who come after him. “I had a really good experience here,” he said, “and I wanted my successors to have a better experience.”

That desire first led him back through volunteer service. He joined the Alumni Council in the mid to late 1990s, then became involved with the Advancement Committee, where he gained a deeper understanding of how schools grow and what it takes to support that growth. In 2010, he joined the Board of Trustees, where he continues to serve today. For the last several years, he has served as treasurer, working closely with school leadership.

Mike sees that service as part of a broader partnership. “We work very closely with the leadership of the school, especially of course Dr. Hickey,” he said. “We’re partners.” He described the board’s role as helping the school get stronger and better, while supporting the leadership team as they pursue priorities that will enrich student life. Whether that means academic investments, new facilities, or improved student spaces, Mike views that work through the lens of mission and long-term impact.

He has had a front-row seat to Austin Prep’s growth in academics, athletics, and the arts. Looking back on his years on the board, he points to the expansion of Advanced Placement classes, the move to NEPSAC athletics, and remarkable opportunities in the arts and faith life as powerful examples of the school’s momentum. “Whether it’s the arts, whether it’s athletics, whether it’s academics, the school has grown immensely,” he said.

Supporting Austin Prep

 

Mike’s support of Austin Prep has taken many forms: time, leadership, and philanthropy. He believes schools must continue to innovate and improve, and that meaningful growth requires real investment. “Schools can’t stand still,” he said. “You always have to innovate, you have to do things you currently do better, and then you have to do more things. All that costs money.”

That conviction has shaped not only how Mike serves, but also how he gives. “We need, as alumni, as trustees, whatever, to put our money where our mouths are,” he said. “You can’t do that with just talent or time, you do need the treasure portion as well.”

His own giving reflects both his professional identity and his love for his family. Mike has made gifts that named two meaningful spaces on campus: one of the stained-glass windows in the chapel, given in honor of his parents, and the Office of Academic Affairs, a natural fit for someone who spent three decades in higher education. The chapel gift carries especially deep meaning. He recalled that his mother attended the orientation Mass with him in August 1975 and immediately fell in love with the space. “She said, ‘This is a beautiful chapel,’” Mike remembered. When the opportunity came to support the chapel through naming rights, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. “I thought I had to get a window for her and my father.”

The gift to Academic Affairs was equally personal. “That just really ties with the fact that I’m a fellow academic,” he said. But both gifts ultimately come back to the same source of gratitude. “I certainly could never have come here without their financial and emotional support,” Mike said of his parents. “So, I wanted to honor that support.”

Why Giving Matters

 

For Mike, giving matters because the institutions that shape lives need to be sustained and strengthened. He believes people should support the causes and organizations that align with their values and beliefs, especially when they have personally experienced their impact. “There has to be some sort of alignment between your beliefs and what they’re doing,” he said.

That philosophy comes into even sharper focus when he talks about Austin Prep. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the school,” Mike said. “Austin Prep is a big part of who I am as a person and as a professional.” That is why he encourages fellow alumni to think seriously about supporting the school in whatever way they can. “If you can make the same statements,” he said, “I’d ask them to consider joining me in supporting the school.”

What continues to inspire him most is the promise he sees in today’s students. Every year at graduation, Mike listens to the student speakers and watches where seniors are headed next. He sees poise, confidence, and opportunity in ways that move him deeply. “There is no way I could have made that speech when I was 18 years old,” he said. He also sees students going on to some of the top universities in the world. “They’re going to do great, great things,” Mike said, “and to have a small role in that, helping the school develop, that’s fantastic.”

Mike Barry’s story is one of loyalty, service, and belief in Austin Prep’s future. Across nearly five decades, he has remained connected to the school because he knows firsthand what it can do in a young person’s life. Through his time, leadership, and generosity, he continues to help Austin Prep grow stronger for the generations still to come.

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Become a Champion of Giving

The article above is part of our Champions of Giving series, which highlights the individuals and families whose generosity transforms student lives and strengthens the Austin Prep experience. You too can be a Champion of Giving by supporting our students through annual giving, memorial scholarships, or campaign contributions. Your gift helps students learn boldly, lead with purpose, and serve with compassion — creating a lasting impact for generations to come.