Insights

As announced in an Insights article in February, Larry V. Stephens, AIC, ARM, CPCU, AAM, DRM, Indiana University's director of insurance, loss control and claims (retired), became the first recipient of URMIA's Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Annual Conference.

The award, which will be granted on rare occasions as URMIA's new highest honor for an institutional member, was created this year to specifically honor select individuals for their extraordinary leadership and commitment to URMIA and the profession of higher education risk management. It was announced at the conference that henceforth the award will be known as the Larry V. Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to Sandy Mitchell, MBA, ARM, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s director of insurance, and Samuel Florio, JD, Santa Clara University’s director of risk management and compliance! They were selected as the recipients of the 2019 Distinguished Risk Manager Award (DRM). This high honor signifies the profound respect of one's peers. It recognizes outstanding leadership and service to URMIA and the profession of higher education risk management. Both of this year’s recipients have worked for more than two decades in the field of risk management and have served URMIA in multiple leadership roles. They were honored at the 2019 Annual Conference.

Congratulations to James Breeding, DRM (Rutgers University-retired) and Larry V. Stephens, AIC, ARM, CPCU, AAM, DRM (Indiana University-retired)! They are recipients of the prestigious 2019 URMIA Emeritus Award. These individuals, now retired, have played a significant role in URMIA. With the award, each receives a free lifetime URMIA retiree membership so the association can continue to benefit from their valuable experience and insights. Barbara Schatzer, MBA, ARM, DRM (University of San Diego-retired) and Richard W. Freeman (Lehigh University-retired), both of whom received this honor in 2018, were at the 2019 Annual Conference to be recognized with the 2019 recipients. James Breeding was not able to attend the conference.

These individuals were recognized during the Annual Business Meeting & Awards Luncheon in Boston. Award recognition begins at the 12-minute mark.