Ed Reynolds ’16 is the first recipient of the newly created Bernard Gray Fellowship. The Fellowship, which will be awarded annually, provides for the education of an MBA student who has been engaged in a form of rigorous public service and has a proven record of leadership.
Reynolds, who served in the US Army from 2006–09 and was stationed in Iraq during the 2007–08 surge, is an ideal recipient for the inaugural fellowship. Bernard Gray ’74, a veteran of the Vietnam War, wanted “to establish something that would recognize students who came from a background of military service, preferably strenuous military service in a war theater.” Reynolds served as a combat engineer in Iraq and was primarily responsible for clearing roadside bombs.
“I think the leadership ability of a student who has been through the military experience… is unique,” Gray said, adding that he believes business school students can learn a great deal from working with veterans in the classroom.
The leadership experience gained during military service, particularly in a warzone, can give veterans a particular edge in business, according to Gray, who attended Columbia Business School after his military service.
“Receiving the award is a tremendous honor, especially in the inaugural year,” Reynolds said. “There is a benefit in having veterans and those with government service in a business school environment. I think it’s a very valuable aspect of a diverse class and a diverse learning environment.”
Reynolds decided to attend Columbia because, while he had some private sector experience, he wanted to “make a transition within the financial services sector, expand [his] network, and gain all of the advantages that come from getting a first class MBA education.”
The Bernard Gray Fellowship Fund is intended to provide for the full tuition of its recipients.
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