Students, faculty and Campbell University leadership gathered together in the Lundy- Fetterman School of Business on Tuesday, Jan. 28 to celebrate the official launch of the Risk Management Institute, the newest addition to business focused offerings from CU. 

The Risk Management Institute will prepare students for a wide variety of professions within the greater risk and insurance field and examine critical issues in a world of growing risks. The Institute will also provide graduates with greater marketability in a stable and profitable industry. 

Students will study issues such as fraud, cyber insurance, natural disasters and artificial intelligence with hands-on learning during field trips and short term studies abroad. 

The Institute will be run Under the leadership of Dr. Michelle Flynn Osborne, former Chief Deputy Commissioner for the North Carolina Department of Insurance, with over 25 years of insurance industry experience, including Fortune 500 leadership, Dr. Osborne brings unparalleled insights to the classrooms.

During the ceremony, Dr. Osborne acknowledged the first batch of students in the RTI program. 

“We have almost 50 in the graduating first class in the spring. So we have 50 in the graduate program. They're going to Salisbury, Austria, and they're going to Germany for the BMW plant to learn about risk there. I'm very, very proud of them,” shared Osborne.

The Risk Management Institute concentrations prepares students for employment in three major areas: 

• Insurance Agency Work- This involves the selling and servicing of insurance products for individuals and businesses. Graduates can expect to find employment with companies in both sales and service positions. 
• Insurance Company Career - Students will work to create and service the actual insurance products used by firms and individuals to reduce the financial impacts of losses. According to information from the Institute, The most common entry level positions with insurers are underwriters and claims/ loss adjusters. 
• Risk Management Profession- This will train students on the position of the risk manager of a company anticipates possible losses and develops a plan to survive them. Employment opportunities in a corporate risk management department include risk analyst, loss control, specialist and claims manager. 

These jobs are expected to be in high demand in the coming years and Campbell is jumping to fill the void. 

“This new institute will advance insurance research and help prepare the next generation of risk management professionals. It's an incredible opportunity for students to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this dynamic field. As our industry continues to grow, this institute will play a key role in creating employment opportunities or registers, setting down the path to impactful careers in the insurance industry,” shared NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. “Research shows that 50% of our current workforce will retire by 2028 so the insurance industry has a great need for knowledgeable employees. Please keep the Department of Insurance in mind for your future employment. I want to thank Campbell University for being such a strong partner in this event.” 

You can learn more about the Lundy- Fetterman School of Business Risk Management Institute here and see a recap of the event here. 

You can also see a message from Campbell University President Dr. J. Bradley Creed here.