Former Trustee and board chair Doug Scrivner and his wife, Mary Scrivner, donated $14 million to the University in September. Photo: Wayne Armstrong
To further develop the study of public policy and the cultivation of leadership at DU, former Trustee and board chair Doug Scrivner (JD ’77) and his wife, Mary Scrivner, donated $14 million to the University in September. DU’s Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, named in the couple’s honor, will combine an academic research focus with practitioner experience and contributions. It will incorporate data sciences and analytics to broaden the ways in which public policy issues are studied and addressed.
The Scrivner gift will provide funding for professorships, fellowships, scholarships, programmatic priorities and an endowed chair, enabling the institute to attract, retain and grow top teaching and research talent. The couple also has pledged an additional $1 million to support programs and initiatives that advance DU’s mission.
“The University of Denver has long been an important part of Mary’s and my life, from meeting and marrying here to serving on the Board of Trustees,” Doug Scrivner says. “We recognize that this university has a unique interdisciplinary excellence and an ability to effect real change in some of the most crucial arenas of our society. We are thrilled to emphasize our legacy here at DU, knowing that the knowledge created here, combined with an exceptional student experience, will impact our world in countless ways.”
Doug Scrivner has served his alma mater in a number of leadership capacities over the years, including serving on the University’s Board of Trustees for many years and chairing the Board from 2014–18. During his tenure as board chair, he worked closely with Chancellor Rebecca Chopp on the University’s strategic plan, DU IMPACT 2025.
“Doug and Mary have been champions for the University of Denver for many years, providing support and expertise in countless meaningful ways,” Chopp says. “Their generosity in establishing the Scrivner Institute represents a visionary leap forward in connecting academic excellence across disciplines with practical expertise to solve the greatest issues facing our society. We are immensely grateful for their partnership as together we envision and create a bold future for the University of Denver.”