At the University of St. Thomas Center for Risk Management & Insurance, preparing students for careers in the industry extends beyond academic coursework. Conference participation provides critical opportunities for students to engage directly with professionals, explore emerging trends, and build meaningful connections outside of the classroom.

This spring, students attended leading industry events including RIMS Risk World in Philadelphia, the WSIA Extreme Risk Takers Symposium in Chicago, the NABIP Conference in Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Big I InsurCon. Each experience helped students connect classroom learning to real-world applications while gaining exposure to different sectors of the risk management and insurance industry.

At the WSIA Symposium, students explored the excess and surplus (E&S) market through educational sessions, networking, and hands-on activities. As David Trujillo-Paniagua shared:

“Industry professionals prioritized informing and passing down knowledge of the E&S market to students, while also creating great career opportunities through networking and an underwriting and brokering case activity. And I was able to secure an internship by attending the event!”

Students and staff attend WSIA conference
UST Students: Aidan Nasser, David Trujillo-Paniagua
Director of RM&I: Wesley Griffiths

At RIMS Risk World, students experienced the scale of the global risk community while engaging with both peers and professionals:

“Networking with business professionals and other students was incredibly valuable, and the sessions on topics like AI and leadership were eye-opening.”

Students attend RIMS Conference Kevin Krenik, Naomi Peters, Danielle McAuley, Aidan Nasser, Irvin Sibri, Angel Akinyele

“It was eye-opening to see the number of companies and professionals involved in risk management and to experience an event of that size.”

At the NABIP Conference, students gained insight into the rapidly evolving benefits and healthcare landscape. Ally Carle reflected:

“Attending the NABIP conference was an incredibly rewarding experience. I loved connecting with vendors and brokers, and one of my biggest takeaways was realizing how rapidly healthcare continues to evolve and the wide range of options available for organizations.”

At the Minnesota Big I InsurCon, students connected with regional professionals and experienced the welcoming culture of the independent agency channel. As Alejandro Ortiz shared:

“It was an amazing experience… I was able to make new connections with professionals who were very welcoming and made me feel included.”

Across all conferences, students consistently highlight the value of stepping outside the classroom to engage with industry leaders, explore career paths, and gain practical insight. These experiences strengthen their confidence and readiness to enter the workforce.

We are grateful to our industry partners whose support makes these opportunities possible. Their continued investment is instrumental in building a strong pipeline of future risk management and insurance professionals.