Linda M. Reynolds ’80 was the first African-American woman Chief Deputy Sheriff in the country, and throughout her career she’s witnessed the devastation that terrorism can inflict on a country. During 9/11, Reynolds saw the chaos in the streets, and in the aftermath, she helped shoulder the emotional weight of searching for survivors. “Being a first responder at the World Trade Center, and seeing the towers collapse and people dying, that’s something that stays with you for a lifetime,” says Reynolds, who earned her master’s degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay. “It was astonishing, no one was sharing any information with anybody—not federal, state, city, or county.”

Understanding the missed connections and opportunities that led to a deadly security disaster, Reynolds vowed to help support programs that helped train future leaders focused on the safety of our citizenry. Recently, she established the Linda M. Reynolds Terrorism Studies Fellowship. “I came from a poor background, so I know what it feels like to struggle,” says Reynolds. “That’s why all of my contributions have been toward supporting the students. That’s my number one goal. Without the students, you wouldn’t have John Jay. The College wouldn’t have the incredible reputation that it has without the students.”

The positive impact of her generosity has been widely felt by John Jay students, especially those studying at our Center on Terrorism, which was founded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, during which the College lost 67 students and alumni members. “My colleagues and I at the Center on Terrorism are really grateful for Linda Reynolds’ continued support of our students, and we are delighted that the fellowship will now carry her name,” says Peter Romaniuk Ph.D., the Center’s Director and Associate Professor of Political Science. “Recent graduates have directly benefitted from Linda’s generosity and they’ve advanced their professional goals in counter-terrorism related fields, including admission to leading Ph.D. programs in Criminal Justice and Psychology.” We sat down with Reynolds to learn more about her journey and her generous gift.

What drives you to support our students pursuing terrorism studies?
When I was attending John Jay, being a Black female in the United States, I thought, It’s time for me to get my say. It’s time for me to be an asset to my government and my country. I needed more education to help me do that. The majority of John Jay students are from all different cultures, from all across the City—including a lot of young minority women looking for the same opportunities that I was when I was in their shoes. They’re the roots of New York, and they’re ready to preserve the safety of the United States. That’s not just foreign terrorism, like I witnessed on September 11, but it’s also national terrorism—which has been undercover for far too long. We have talented students. We have dedicated faculty. We have the technology. Let’s help them so that they can help protect our country.

What do you remember most fondly about being a student at John Jay?
The interaction with professors. There’s not one that I have any negative opinion of. If a student needed help, they’d reach out. They’d never do the work for you, but they’d find ways to guide you. They made you use your own intelligence, read, and figure things out. It was like a close-knit family. You’re going to have your disputes—as any family would—but there was this overwhelming feeling of support. The faculty knew that they had to work together to educate these young people. John Jay students want the education. They’re thirsty for an education. And after studying at John Jay, they can almost write their ticket. We’re the Harvard of Criminal Justice.

What would you want future awardees of your fellowship to know?
I want to tell them that the U.S. of A. is a multitude of different people, cultures, and beliefs. It doesn’t matter whether you agree with others or you disagree with them, we all should be safe. We all should protect each other. If this is the road you want to go down, learning how to protect our country, if this is the path you want to travel, make sure you have a car on that road and not roller skates. When you’re driving down that road, make the necessary stops, gas up when you need to—which means coming back, talking to your professors, connecting with other alumni, whatever it takes. That’s what I would tell them.

What would you say to someone thinking about setting up a scholarship or fellowship to help support our students’ success?
If you can afford to do it, do it, it’s the best feeling in the world. After you’re long gone, you’ll still be paying it forward for young people—they’re the ones who are going to inherit this place. We have the best and the brightest students. If you don’t support the young people, who are you supporting? I know people who’ll go out and drop $100 on fancy gel nails and superficial stuff like that, I mean give me a break. Help somebody else out. Any amount of money will help, and if you can’t do the money, you can be a mentor. The bottom line is, we’re responsible for supporting our young so that they can take over in a responsible manner. And then when they become adults, they can turn around and pull up the next generation.

Finish this sentence for me: Because of John Jay...
Because of John Jay, I achieved greatness at my job. The information that I learned at John Jay, and the study habits that I developed, that’s what helped me to do well on promotional exams and earn merit increases. John Jay gave me the background and the fortitude to strive for excellence.