Collen L.        

Army - Active Duty

Stanford University - Graduate School of Business & School of Engineering

Lacking guidance as a youth, Collen sought purpose and mentorship in service. At seventeen, he enlisted in the Army, determined to serve others and find direction. As a Green Beret, that purpose was tested when he deployed to Niger after an ISIS ambush killed four U.S. Special Forces operators. Tasked with continuing their mission, he developed a remote advisory system that improved U.S.–Nigerien coordination and reduced casualties. The system was later adopted across all Special Forces theaters.

While in Africa, Collen began teaching English and digital literacy to Nigerien soldiers, using salvaged laptops and minimal power. Their determination to learn despite hardship inspired him to rebuild his own education—starting at community college, transferring to UPenn, and now pursuing an MBA/MSCS at Stanford focused on Artificial Intelligence. His goal is to develop EdTech tools that expand digital education access in underserved communities worldwide.

Collen applied to GDMF to join a community that embodies Glen’s values—curiosity, loyalty, purpose, and service beyond the uniform. With GDMF’s support, he hopes to continue that mission through education and innovation.