Dr. Brian David Ray

Brian Ray is a faculty member at the University of Florida where he serves as Director of the Poe Business Ethics Center and an Instructional Professor of Leadership and Ethics.  Dr. Ray is also the Contributing Professor for the Wall Street Journal in the fields of leadership and ethics and teaches graduate-level ethics courses for the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.  For 17 years Dr. Ray served as Associate Dean for the University of Florida Warrington College of Business.  In that capacity he was responsible for leading a nationally-ranked undergraduate program with over 4,000 students.

Dr. Ray received a Ph.D. and Ed.S. in University Administration from Florida State University, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and an M.B.A. from the University of Central Florida. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Stetson University. While at Stetson he served as Student Body Vice President during his junior year and Student Body President during his senior year. Dr. Ray is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Management Development Program.

Awards and recognitions while serving at the University of Florida include the following:

Distinguished Alumni Award, Florida State University College of Education: This award honors graduates who have distinguished themselves through scholarly, creative, and humanitarian achievement and service to their profession.

Teacher of the Year, University of Florida Warrington College of Business

George and Mary Hood Award, Stetson University: Awarded annually in recognition of commitment and contributions to Stetson University as well as promotion of its core values of personal growth, intellectual development, and global citizenship.

C. Arthur Sandeen Award, University of Florida Student Government: Awarded annually to a faculty member “whose efforts and service have made UF a better place for all students.”?

Mort Wolfson Faculty Service Award, University of Florida: Awarded annually to a faculty member who “exemplifies commitment to students through advising & teaching.”

Young Alumni Award, Stetson University: Awarded annually to a graduate who has demonstrated significant accomplishment and promise in their profession.

In addition to his work in higher education, Dr. Ray served 35 years in the U.S. Army (active, guard, and reserve) retiring as a Colonel. During his military career Dr. Ray was recognized many times for exemplary leadership. He is a recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, one of the Army’s most prestigious honors for company-grade officers. He is also a recipient of the Lowry Award, presented annually to the top company-grade officer in the Florida National Guard.  In his final assignment Dr. Ray served as a Faculty Instructor in Leadership and Ethics for the U.S. Army War College. Prior to that he served as a Senior Advisor for the Department of Defense Standards of Conduct Office. He’s also served as a Chaplain for the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the Executive Editor of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Journal. He also served as the Command Chaplain for the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, the largest command in the U.S. Army Reserve with over 35,000 soldiers. In that role, he directed the religious support of 100 chaplains. Dr. Ray served three tours of active duty after the 9/11 terrorists attacks. Locations where he’s deployed include Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. During his most recent deployment to Afghanistan, Dr. Ray earned a second Bronze Star Medal.

Dr. Ray and his wife Shannon have been married twenty-nine years. They have two children, a daughter Ashley who is a graduate of the University of Florida and a son David who is enrolled in the “3/2” combined-degree MBA program at Rollins College.