Gender Female
Catherine B. Reynolds is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. She brings to the world of philanthropy the same energy and entrepreneurial spirit that ensured her success in the realm of commerce. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she started her business career as a CPA, and then became the Special Assistant to the Board
Chairman of a Fortune 500 company. As the leader of two businesses, Mrs. Reynolds went on to launch a new and affordable way for Americans to finance a college education. She developed a privately-funded supplement to government student loan programs and created the securitization market for student loans on Wall Street. Through her vision and perseverance, millions of Americans have been able to attend the college of their choice. In only one decade, this creative approach to private educational financing revolutionized student lending and spawned a multibillion-dollar industry.
Mrs. Reynolds now devotes her time and abilities primarily to philanthropic pursuits. She was selected by BusinessWeek magazine as one of the 50 most philanthropic living Americans and is the first self-made woman ever to make their list. Mrs. Reynolds has received honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Morehouse College and Willamette University, as well as New York University’s Gallatin Gold Medal. She was selected recently as Washingtonian of the Year, honoring “local heroes whose good works and generous spirits make Washington a great place to live and work.”
