Strong momentum powers the Risk & Insurance Professional Studies program in the College of Business at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno, as the three-year-old initiative prepares to become the newest minor offered by the Finance Department this fall.
That's welcome news to the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Surplus Lines Foundation, the charitable arm of the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Surplus Lines Association, an industry organization that gifted the funding necessary to launch the program in 2021. The Foundation has generously committed another $580,300 over the next two years to help the program scale to offer a minor.
The association views its alliance with the University as a cornerstone of its mission to raise awareness about the many career opportunities available to students in the insurance and risk-management profession, ranging from underwriting services to brokerage management.
"We're very pleased with the collaboration that we have with the University," said Nick Rossi, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Surplus Lines Association. "The University truly recognizes us as a partner.”
Greg McKinley, the chairman of the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Surplus Lines Association, said the program meets an essential need as 50 percent of the nation's insurance workforce plans to retire in the next 15 years.
"The demand for qualified individuals to enter the field has never been greater, and the insurance and risk management industry is well positioned to meet the personal and professional needs of new college graduates who seek a rewarding career," McKinley said.
The program has also received financial support from The Spencer Educational Foundation, a New York City non-profit committed to advancing insurance and risk management education.
"Spencer Educational Foundation is very pleased to support the University's program, which continues to scale rapidly and attract next-generation talent into the very lucrative risk and insurance industry," said Ken Goldstein, The Spencer Educational Foundation's university partnership director. "Our support has ranged from course-development funding to grants that support experiential learning."
David Cisneros, the inaugural director of Risk & Insurance Professional Studies, boasts over 25 years of experience in risk management and insurance. Cisneros is joined in the classroom by three current industry professionals - Paul Burkett, Brandon Lewis, and Don Wood - who serve as adjunct faculty for the program. The program offers courses to prepare students with the knowledge base and skillsets needed to succeed, including corporate risk management, risk and insurance operations, property and casualty, and health and life insurance. This has led to strong ratings from students who spread the word about the program's value, boosting a four-fold growth in enrollment since the Spring of 2021.
“The program’s coursework is designed to meet the industry needs, and the experience of our faculty makes it exciting for the students,” said David Cisneros. “But beyond the curriculum, our attention is on student engagement and introducing them to industry professionals, with job placement in mind.”
Career placement is one of the critical indicators of success for this new program, which has already helped over 40 students pursue careers in the insurance and risk management industries.
Greg Mosier, dean of The College of Business, believes the new minor is directly connected to the college's mission to develop globally competitive business leaders. He noted that it helps create a pipeline for business students to prepare for exciting career opportunities while equipping students with transferable skills across industries.
The new minor is open to all students across the University—not just those with a business major—to make this program accessible to all who are interested, regardless of the discipline of their degree.
