The Wholesale Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) Chair was endowed in 2010 through a $1 million gift to the Department of Risk Management & Insurance from members and associate members of the organization as the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) Chair. WSIA was formed in 2017 when AAMGA and the National Association of Professional Surplus Agents (NAPSLO) merged.  The WSIA Chair provides the holder with funds to promote academic leadership, programmatic activity, research, student support and other professional activities in Risk Management & Insurance. The Chair is intended to provide meaningful insights into the ‘Wholesale Excess and Surplus Lines” sector of the insurance industry.

In 1997 the Robert W. Batten Chair in Actuarial Science was established by Georgia State University to honor Professor Robert W. Batten, who had directed the actuarial science program for 30 years prior to his retirement that year. With commitments to date of more than $1 million in support from alumni and friends of the program, the chair enables the Robinson College of Business to attract and retain the best teaching and research faculty in the actuarial field, to attract top students and to expand the actuarial science seminar program.

Through the combined efforts of a small group of insurance industry leaders, the Kenneth Black Jr. Chair of Insurance was approved by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in 1989. The Black Chair is unique in academic circles in that it is endowed as a program chair, designed to benefit the various activities of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance, rather than the activities of only one professor. The chair is always held by the chair of the department. In 1997, the board of trustees of the GSU Risk Management Foundation undertook a major fundraising campaign relative to the Black Chair. The goal of this initiative was to raise an additional $1.3 million in cash contributions and pledges to augment the funds that were raised previously. This initiative culminated in a gala held in Dr. Black’s honor, where nearly 300 distinguished contributors, Georgia State alumni, and insurance industry leaders witnessed the presentation of a $1.45 million check to former Georgia State University President Carl V. Patton.

Established in 1988, the Thomas P. Bowles Jr. Chair of Actuarial Science highlights and addresses major trends and contributes to the continued vitality of the actuarial profession. The Bowles Symposia Series — established in 1995 as a special program of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance — represents a collection of actuarial research and education seminars that focus on specific issues relevant to the changing and complex environment in which contemporary actuaries practice.

In 1983, member companies of the Life Insurers Conference (a trade association with a long relationship with GSU) initiated an effort to fund a Chair of Insurance at Georgia State University’s business school. More than 100 insurance companies and individuals contributed to the initial fund drive. The C.V. Starr Foundation, named after Cornelius Vander Starr, gave to fully endow the chair in 1989. In response, the university renamed the chair in honor of Mr. Starr. Cornelius Vander Starr was the founder of the American International Group (AIG) and was the principal benefactor and founder of the Starr Foundation. Starr began his career in the Asia-Pacific area, founding AIG in Shanghai, but had great influence throughout the world. A complex, well-traveled and educated man, he believed that the people of the world have much to learn from each other despite cultural differences. The C.V. Starr Chair of International Insurance at the Robinson College of Business shares this objective.

The C.V. Starr Chair of International Insurance provides resources to support the chairholder and the international aspects of the programs in the Department of Risk Management & Insurance. The holder of the chair maintains an international profile and uses the resources of the chair to enhance all aspects of the programs from an international perspective. The chairholder conducts research that contributes to our knowledge of international risk and insurance or to the resolution of important issues touching on insurance internationally. The chairholder also helps make our students, faculty and curriculum more attuned to international matters.

The James S. Kemper Foundation pledged $125,000 to the Department of Risk Management & Insurance to establish the James S. Kemper Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance, an amount that is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Robinson College of Business. The Kemper Professor is engaged in highly visible teaching, research and service activities that are consistent with the mission of the department and the college.

After 30 years of service to Georgia State University, Bruce A. Palmer retired on August 31, 2001 as professor and chair of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance. In honor of Dr. Palmer’s distinguished career, the Board of Trustees of the GSU Risk Management Foundation established the Bruce A. Palmer Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance. Throughout his career, Dr. Palmer worked diligently to achieve national and international recognition for the department, the Robinson College of Business, and Georgia State University. Under his seven years of leadership as chair, the department flourished into one of the leading academic institutions of its kind in the world.

Since its inception in 1979, the New York Life Foundation — the primary vehicle through which New York Life Insurance Company (NYL) supports charitable causes — has contributed more than $40 million towards making positive differences in the lives of millions of people around the world. NYL is strongly committed to ensuring the success of future generations by funding programs and institutions that help young people realize their intellectual, professional and personal potential. To that end, NYL Foundation contributed $250,000 toward the endowment of the New York Life Professorship of Insurance in the Department of Risk Management & Insurance (RMI). This marks a milestone in the four-decade relationship between NYL and the department that began in 1960 with a $15,000 pledge by NYL to advance the academic goals of the young insurance academic unit. Since then, NYL’s commitment and support continues to bolster the department’s position as one of the world’s premier centers for risk management education and research, and strengthen the department’s capacity to develop and train tomorrow’s insurance leaders.

The R. Means Davis Jr. CPCU Endowed Professorship was established at Georgia State University in 2014 by the R. Means Davis family in honor of his namesake. Mr. Davis, an alumnus of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance, received his B.B.A in insurance in 1968 and a master’s of insurance in 1970. e was an active member of the GSU Risk Management Foundation (formerly Educational Foundation Inc.) and was instrumental in establishing the Kenneth Black Jr. Chair of Insurance to honor one of his mentors and role models. The Davis professorship supports the activities of a highly recognized leader in research and education focused on risk and its management.

The most versatile of all the Risk Management Foundation funds, these monies provide for supplemental funding above that available through normal state funding. This fund enables the department chair to allocate additional resources to support the department’s teaching, research and service mission; provide scholarships to deserving students; acquire current technology, publications and subscriptions; support travel to industry meetings and symposia; and provide funding for rapid decision making on urgent issues that may arise.

This fund supports the Insurance Research and Education Initiative. This initiative sponsors and disseminates valuable applied research and information on risk and insurance to support optimal private and public decisions.

This chair is named for Professor Robert Batten whose 30-plus years at Georgia State University helped produce an actuarial science program that is one of the most successful in the world and the largest of its kind in the United States. The mission of the chair is to maintain and enhance the existing actuarial science program; the appointment is held by the director of the actuarial science program.

This fund assists the best Bermudian students in pursuing an education in risk management at the Robinson College of Business.

This chair, named after the founder of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance, is held by the chair of the department. Chair funds are used to attract and retain excellent teaching and research faculty; attract and support talented students through scholarships and fellowships; attract and retain future program heads who are highly respected both in academia and in the risk management and insurance profession; and to support various activities of the risk management and insurance program.

Contributions to this fund are received from alumni and friends for the support of scholarships. Awards are made to undergraduate and graduate students as funds are available.

Friends and colleagues of Mr. Hunter established this scholarship in honor of his long and distinguished career in the insurance industry. He also contributed generously to fund this scholarship to provide annual scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students.

Friends and colleagues of Dr. Palmer established this professorship upon his retirement in 2001 as professor and chair of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance. It honors his 27-year career of excellence at Georgia State University by supporting the valuable research and teaching activities of a faculty member from the department.

In keeping with its continuing commitment to education, mentoring, research and technological advancements in the insurance industry, New York Life Foundation established this fund at Georgia State University in 2000. The fund supports the highly visible teaching, research and service activities of the New York Life Professor of Insurance.

The James S. Kemper Foundation established this fund in 2001 in honor of James Scott Kemper, founder of the Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company and the related Kemper companies, and his commitment to the advancement of higher education. The fund primarily supports the highly visible teaching, research and service activities of the James S. Kemper Professor.

This scholarship is named in honor of Professor John W. Hall whose 19-year tenure as chair of the Department of Risk Management & Insurance was noted as a period of growth and excellence. Scholarships are awarded to qualified graduate students. Selection is based on leadership and integrity.

This fund consists of residuals from the department’s management of the LIC Seminars, which previously were offered through Georgia State.

The International Visiting Fellows Program, sponsored by Munich Reinsurance Company (Munich Re) and Georgia State University, is an executive education program conducted annually. Eight visiting fellows from Munich Re and ceding companies attend a two-month intensive program on U.S. insurance practices. Classes are specifically designed for the group, and their studies include a research project and field trips to various risk management and insurance organizations.

This scholarship is funded by the Atlanta Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students interested in risk management.

Endowed by the Starr Foundation, this fund provides scholarships to full-time students majoring in actuarial science or risk management and insurance. Priority is given to graduate students, but undergraduate students who have at least two years of coursework and who have outstanding potential are considered.

Endowed by a grant from the Helen C. Leith Foundation, this fund was established to support insurance education and research. Scholarships are awarded annually to undergraduate and graduate students.

This scholarship fund is named after its founder, J. Ed Bell, long-time Thomaston, Georgia, State Farm agent and ardent supporter of education. This endowed scholarship provides one $1,000 scholarship each academic year to a junior, senior, or graduate student with a dedicated major in risk management and insurance at the Robinson College of Business.

These funds are provided by the Risk and Insurance Management Society and generally are used to support students attending meetings and special programs.

This $2,500 annual scholarship is awarded to a deserving student who is interested in claims and majoring in risk management and insurance. This scholarship was endowed by Mr. Morgan’s friends and colleagues to recognize his contributions and dedication to the insurance profession.