Meet our award winners recognized at the most recent annual conference
Members Earn High Honors for Contributions to Higher Ed Risk Management
Fifteen URMIA members were recognized during the 2025 Annual Conference in Las Vegas for outstanding achievements and service to the organization. Here’s who we celebrated as our 2025 award recipients.
Emerging Risk Professional Award
Two members were awarded the Emerging Risk Professional Award in the award’s second year of existence. This award recognizes members in the early stages of their career in higher education risk management who have made contributions to and impacts on URMIA. Inaugural recipients of this honor are Caitlin Cai, University of Tennessee System, and Victoria Meadows, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Visionary Award
URMIA’s Visionary Award recognizes institutional members who have identified a specific need, acted upon it, and developed an innovative and effective program, process, or service to address an identified need for URMIA members. This year, Mellany Patrong of Prairie View A&M University was honored with the award for her work with risk managers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Jenny Whittington Excellence in Volunteering Award
Honoring members who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer service and/or leadership within URMIA, having promoted our mission, vision, and values is the purpose of this award, named in honor of Executive Director Emerita Jenny Whittington. This year, URMIA honored Susie Johnson of Iowa State University and Matt Tuttle of the University of Utah for their outstanding volunteerism to URMIA.
Distinguished Risk Manager Award
Presented to institutional members in recognition of a long-term, distinguished career as a risk manager and the contributions made to the field of risk management, the Distinguished Risk Manager (DRM) Award is one of the organization’s top recognitions. This year, three URMIA members were awarded the designation/award including Julie Groves, Wake Forest University; David Parker, Pima Community College; and Fitzroy Smith, Howard University.
Emeritus Award
Retired members who have provided exemplary service to URMIA and higher education risk management as a professional during their careers are eligible for the association’s Emeritus Award. Five individuals were awarded this award in 2025 including: Sally Alexander, retired from Colorado State University; Amy Daley, retired from AssuredPartners/Fred C. Church; Jean Demchak, retired from Marsh McLennan; Lou Drapeau, retired from the University of Kentucky and URMIA; and Margaret Tungseth, retired from Loras College.
Outstanding Affiliate Service Award
The Outstanding Affiliate Service Award is given to affiliate members who have made career-long contributions of notable service to higher education risk management and URMIA. Candace Collins of Gallagher was honored as the organization’s 2025 awardee.
Larry V. Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award
Given to institutional members who have made career-long contributions of notable service to higher education risk management and URMIA, the Larry V. Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest award an institutional member can receive from URMIA. This year, the association presented the award to Phillip Dendy of the University of Texas System.
Congratulations to all of these outstanding URMIA members who have contributed to the broader higher education risk management community in a number of ways. We are proud to honor you and your dedication to the profession.
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