Insights

Learn who was recognized as the organization’s honorees for the year                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Eleven Members Earned High Honors

During the 2024 Annual Conference in New Orleans, URMIA awarded eleven members in the six award categories for outstanding achievements and service to the organization. Here’s who was recognized for their contributions.

Emerging Risk Professional Award

A new award presented for the first time this year, the Emerging Risk Professional Award was created to recognize 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 Jacob Sajinyan, Washington State University; Olivia Watson, University of Massachusetts President’s Office; and Zelena Williams.

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. Two members, <Courtney Davis Curtis, now of Hub International, and <Andre Le Duc, with the University of Oregon, were awarded the Visionary Award.

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, newly named in honor of Executive Director, Emerita Jenny Whittington. This year we honored Todd Adkins, University of Kentucky; Amanda Franklin, Wheaton College; and Elliot Young, Kansas State University with this honor.

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, Ben Evans of the University of Pennsylvania was awarded the DRM award.

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. Chris Duble of Fred C. Church was honored as the organization’s 2024 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 Margaret Tungseth of Loras College.

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