Insights

Find out what these risk managers took away from the program                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Scholarship Funding Made Possible by the URMIA Community

URMIA awarded 17 professional scholarships to institutional risk managers to attend their first URMIA Annual Conference this year for the New Orleans event. These scholarships are made possible by sponsorships from FM, Gallagher, Guarantee Trust Life, and Marsh McLennan as well as proceeds from the annual raffle that takes place at the conference. (This year’s conference raffle raised $5,870! We appreciate your support of this event.)

Here are some takeaways from these scholarship recipients about the 2024 conference.

Describe the Most Valuable Aspect of Your Conference Experience

“The most valuable part of my URMIA conference experience was connecting with risk management professionals who face similar challenges in higher education and sharing practical strategies for compliance and risk assessment from the university perspective. These interactions and sessions reinforced the importance of building adaptable risk frameworks for diverse campus needs as well as providing me with tools and templates to jumpstart my efforts,” shared Eric Jackson of the University of Missouri System.

Florida Polytechnic University’s Michelle Powell stated: “The opportunity to speak with individuals who have been where I am not and are more than willing to share best practices (and failures), was reassuring and confidence-building. I feel more prepared to support my institution knowing I have the support of my URMIA colleagues.”

“My most valuable experience,” said Antoneile Brown of the University of the West Indies, “was partaking in the roundtable discussions where risk management and insurance knowledge and ideas were shared. These sessions also allowed thought-provoking questions to be asked which sparked robust discussions around risk management and insurance industry best practices and strategies.”

Share an “ah-ha” Moment for You During the Event

Kate Miller from Christopher Newport University was reminded that she’s not alone in risk management. “One of the most impactful sessions was Lance Ewing speaking about fortifying resilience with his message of how we not only bounce back but go above and beyond that and bounce forward. Coming to a new position and being new to higher ed can be not only daunting but frustrating as well, especially when it comes to risk management. Ewing’s speech (along with plenty of breakout sessions and conversations I had with other solo risk managers) reminded me that I'm not the only one who faces these obstacles. Having a community of those who have been before you and know your struggles or are fighting the same battles and may have information/strategies to share is a definite bolster when you feel like you've reached a dead end.”

Scott Bourdon, who works for the California State University System Office of the Chancellor, described his ah-ha moment that happened throughout the conference. “This happened several times, but the RFP session prompted me to learn more about our process. We have multiple contracts in place with our carriers, and although I am not an approver, I need to learn more about the process to have a more holistic understanding of our insurance program.”

“Sitting in an ERM session on the first day and appreciating the level of care and concern dedicated risk managers serve in their higher education institution” was an ah-ha moment that Sara Nick of Northwood Technical College experienced. “The speaker’s plan was well thought through and involved cross-functional areas of the college to measure and prioritize campus risks.”

What Prompted the Completion of the Scholarship Application

For Bradley Nolden of Knox College, it was encouragement from outside his institution that got him to apply for the scholarship. “Discussions with my broker, who outlined the value of the conference and the ability to access funds, [made me] decide to attend [as it was] easier for my institution.”

“Being new to higher ed, I have a strong sense of “I don’t know what I don’t know” and am taking advantage of every educational opportunity that comes along,” stated Carol Rehnberg of Western Washington University. “The URMIA conference seemed like an ideal opportunity. At the same time, my university is experiencing financial issues right now that have resulted in zero professional development spending for the current budget period. Getting the scholarship was the only way I was able to go.”

Colorado College’s Ryan Hammes felt that the conference “would be a great opportunity to get my name out there and meet other professionals in the industry. The scholarship also certainly helped to offset the cost of attending and thus helped justify this professional development opportunity.”

Why Risk Managers Should Apply for the Scholarship in the Future

“Like all institutions, budgets are tight and without the scholarship, I would have not been able to attend the conference,” said Chris Herrera of Washburn University. “I would encourage everyone that is eligible to apply. The only way to learn and keep growing is to meet new people. What's the saying…"You'll be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." URMIA created the scholarships for a reason. There are not too many organizations that care enough to do that. If the option is there, why not take advantage of it?”

Tacara McKinney-Baisden, who was with the University of Oklahoma at the time of the conference, shared, “Your student/staff members are only as good as they are unless you enrich them with other tools to have them perform at a higher level. Always promote professional growth and guidance for them to generate a better outlook on how risk management can work more efficiently within your university. We all need those connections to understand that we do not have to do this job alone and there are others that are always willing to help.”

According to Stephanie Powell from Southeastern University, “You don't lose anything by trying and the way that URMIA celebrates those that receive a scholarship was so nice! This conference but more so, this association, is so different from any other that I would highly recommend nominating and applying for a scholarship so that you can experience the greatness as well!”

Insights Home