Risk Management and Insurance Blog

Student Spotlight: Abby Scallon, Class of 2025

Abby and other RMI students attending the GIS Conference in September 2025.

My name is Abby Scallon, and I am a senior communication studies major. When I transferred to St. Thomas last fall after earning my associate’s degree from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, it was important to me to explore courses outside of my major. I wasn’t sure where to start, but my friend strongly encouraged me to look into the Risk Management and Insurance certificate program.

The first course I took was ACSC 220 with Professor Axtell. Throughout the semester, I learned from industry professionals, collaborated with my peers, and understood how individuals and corporations manage risk. Additionally, I was thankful to learn about the various careers and roles available in the insurance and organizational risk management industries. After I completed this course, I was certain that I wanted to obtain a certificate in the program at St. Thomas. Following this class, I took FINC 301 and FINC 303. Both of these courses are taught by professionals in the industry, and I was thankful to learn more about their experiences and how they have progressed in their careers. This fall semester, I was fortunate to take FINC 303, where I was able to grow my understanding of employee benefits and collaborate with my peers. As I am finishing this semester, I am currently enrolled in the last course required to complete the certificate. Over the past year and a half, my knowledge and understanding of risk management and insurance have grown tremendously.

One of many benefits to pursuing a certificate in Risk Management and Insurance at St. Thomas is that there are a tremendous number of opportunities to meet people in the industry. In September, I was invited to attend the Gamma Iota Sigma annual conference in Hartford, Connecticut. I was able to take part in this experience because of the Spencer grant program. This program is designed to present and engage with students about the Risk Management profession and the Insurance Industry. At this conference, I was able to meet students from around the nation who had similar interests to me, attend career fairs, and sit in on valuable presentations about current topics in the field. I am grateful for the generosity of the Spencer grant and Professor Axtell for supporting my ability to attend this conference.

Throughout my time in the Risk Management and Insurance Certificate program, I have gained valuable knowledge and expertise about the industry. I am thankful that I explored these courses outside of my major. I am excited to transition my skills to a professional career after I graduate this December.

January 13, 2026 by Lindsay Mayernik

Networking

GIS Career Fair: November 6, 2025. Tables Available!

Is your company looking for interns for Summer 2026 or earlier? Do you have some full-time entry-level roles you are looking to get quality candidates for? The University of St. Thomas is hosting the 11^th annual RM&I Career Fair on Nov. 6^th, 2025 from 11 am to 1:30pm in the Anderson Student Center on the St. Paul campus. This event, organized by the university’s chapter of GIS, offers employers a chance to connect with UST students, recruit for internships and jobs, and raise your company’s profile on the campus of the University of St. Thomas.

To register your company, please go here.

There is a recommended $250 donation to attend this event. All donations are used by the GIS chapter to send undergraduate members to the GIS National Convention. Donations can be made here.

September 4, 2025 by Lindsay Mayernik

Academics

Graduate Program Update

Our undergraduate program isn’t the only place where innovation and preparation is happening. Our graduate courses and certificates are preparing leaders in Risk Management through coursework and research. Here’s what’s happening in the graduate program!

The University of St. Thomas’ Risk Management & Insurance (RM&I) initiative contains several component parts. Under the general heading of Graduate Programming are two principal features:

1) The Graduate Certificate in Strategic Risk & and Responsibility

2) The Research Project. Included below is a list of the research conducted in the past five years by our graduate faculty.

The Graduate Certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility

Our graduate program is reorganizing for this academic year to create additional remote learning features. Here’s what we anticipate offering in the 2026-27 academic year, and beyond!

Graduate students of all interests are welcome to participate in MGMT 753. However, it should be noted that MGMT 753 also satisfies a key course requirement for the Opus College of Business’s (OCB’s) Certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility (SR&R).

Through delivery of a graduate certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility, OCB seeks to provide students knowledge and frameworks to improve the quality of managerial decisions in their organizations by exploring risk evaluation and decision theory, compliance programs and processes, and corporate responsibility and reputation. Graduate certificate students will explore the interconnectivity between these areas and gain fundamental skills in managing strategic risk and leadership, corporate governance, compliance, and business ethics—with particular attention paid to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and resilience.

Certificate Structure

The certificate in Strategic Risk and Responsibility includes four 3-credit courses (12 total credits). The certificate draws on existing courses delivered by faculty from the Opus College of Business and the St. Thomas School of Law.

The curriculum structure is as follows (required or highly recommended courses are in bold; all others are optional):

· Risk Management – 3 credits

o MGMT 751 Risk Management – 3 credits

· Compliance – 3 credits

o BETH 650/LAWS 730 Compliance Programming – 3 credits

· Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability – 3 credits

o MGMT 753 Risk Leadership in a Global Context – 3 credits

o MGMT 714 Strategic Sustainability – 3 credits

o ENTR 708 Social Entrepreneurship – 3 credits

· Professional Effectiveness – 3 credits

o MGMT 623 Project Management – 3 credits

o BCOM 661 Reputation Management and Stakeholder Engagement – 3 credits

o BCOM 635 Persuasion – 3 credits

o MGMT 702 Leading Organizational Change – 3 credits

Students interested in learning more about the Certificate are encouraged to contact Professor Peter Young for further information (pcyoung@stthomas.edu; 605.645.7505).

The Research Project

Young, P.C. (2025). “Corporate and Public Responses to Uncertainty: Understanding the Challenge of Collaboration”, Chapter 20, Editors: TJ Andersen, Petersen, B, Ashbee, E. Business and Policy Challenges of Global Uncertainty: European Perspectives. World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd.

Andersen, T. J., Young, P. C. (2024). Enhancing public sector enterprise risk management through interactive information processing. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2023.1239447

Young, P. C., Hoang, T. (2024). The role of risk leadership in defining ERM readiness to adopt. The IBM Center for the Business of Government.

Ryan, R., Egan, T., Young, P. C., Burke, R. (2024). The role of leadership in embedding risk management: lessons from an Irish public sector organisation. International Journal Public Sector Performance Management, 1(1). 10.1504/IJPSPM.2024.10056247

Andersen, T. J., Young, P. C. (2023). Reshaping Public Sector (Enterprise) Risk Management. International Journal of Public Administration. DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2023.2197170

(2022) Young, P.C. Public/Private Risk Financing Innovation: The Case of Risk Pools. ADIA Europe Research Series on Insurance Law and Regulation. Chapter 10. Springer Publishing. AIA In print, expected publication date June 30, 2022. Electronic ISSN: 2662-1789 Print ISSN: 2662-1770

Young, P.C. (2022). Public Sector Leadership in Assessing and Addressing Risk, Vol: 4. Emerald Studies in Finance, Insurance, and Risk Management. Editors P.C. Young, Simon Grima, Rebecca Dalli Gonzi. Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing Ltd.

Andersen, Torben J., Peter C. Young (2021). Strategic Risk Leadership: Context and Cases. Abingdon: Routledge.

Andersen, T., Young, P. C. (2020). Strategic risk leadership: Engaging a world of risk, uncertainty, and the unknown. London: Routledge.

September 2, 2025 by Lindsay Mayernik

Networking

Save the Date! 2025 Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame

Save the date! We’re thrilled to announce the second annual Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame. Please join us to honor the following 8 Minnesota insurance industry legends.

Monica Engel
Retired SVP, President of Government Markets
Blue Cross Blue Shield MN
CEO of Blue Plus

Nyles R Gentz
Gentz Fincial Service

Bill Jeatran
Founder/Former CEO RFJ Agency
Vice Chairman Marsh McLennan Agency

Patrica R Johnson, JD
Former President and CEO
State Fund Mutual Insurance Company

Chris Schneeman CLU,ChFC, RHU
Employee Benefits Risk Advisor
Formerly SevenHill Benefit Partners

Mark Sheehan, CPCU
CEO Twin City Group
Founder of Park Glen National Insurance Company

Paul Steuven
Former CEO/Treasurer
Fairmont Farmers Mutual

Gloria Thompson
Professional Agent -North Risk Partners
Educational Consultant – Big I of MN

Location: Woulfe Alumni Hall, Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas

Date: October 9, 2025

Time: Cocktail reception at 5:30, dinner and ceremony at 6:30

Registration can be found here. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring this event, that information can be found here.

August 16, 2025 by Lindsay Mayernik

Academics, Travel

Risk Management & Insurance in London 2025

Tommies Abroad at Lloyd's of London

On January 5, 2025, a group of St. Thomas students and two professors took off from MSP on the start of a three-week adventure in London learning the basics about the global risk management and insurance industry. After 2 days of classes on campus, students enrolled in the J-term Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance course immersed themselves in the sights, sounds, culture and global insurance ecosystem that is London!

The students, representing a diverse group of majors from St. Thomas – Business, Accounting, Economics, Actuarial Science, Management, and more – spent a whirlwind three weeks in a mixture of classroom lectures and site visits to a variety of companies and locales. These site visits included Travelers, an in-depth look at catastrophe modeling and fraud detection at Verisk, a morning at Apollo syndicate (co-founded by Minnesota’s own Jim Hayes, who was inducted in the innaugural class of the Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame on UST’s campus in the fall of 2024), and time with Holborn Re’s London-partners AHJ. In addition, a London-located alum supplemented the classroom experience with his insider’s view of what reinsurance brokering looks like in the London market. And, of course, the highlight of the site visits was a small-group tour of Lloyds of London, the global heart of the industry!

Outside of the classroom and site visits, students found plenty of ways to immerse themselves in London and beyond with premier league soccer (ok, football) matches, walking tours, museums, and exploring one of the world’s great cities! During their free weekends, various students managed to find their ways to Paris, Berlin, and Dublin. More importantly, they also managed to find their ways back to London by Monday morning class time!

The University of St. Thomas offers this introductory RM&I class on campus each semester and strives to offer it in London every other January. We are always looking for site visit partners and classroom guests, so if you or your company have a London presence and might want to help, please drop Dr. Mike Axtell an email at mike.axtell@stthomas.edu

July 24, 2025 by Lindsay Mayernik

Student Spotlight, Travel

Student Spotlight: Salma Thompson, DFC ’24, Current UST Senior

A group of students at Risk World, 2024. Salma is pictured in the middle of the top row.

Salma Thompson completed two years at UST’s Dougherty Family College (DFC) and graduated in the spring of 2024 with an associates degree in Liberal Studies. She is now attending the University of St. Thomas to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Salma was a recipient of a travel scholarship to attend RISKWorld 2024 in San Diego in early May. She said it was “Everything I could have imagined – fantastical and exhilarating”. Funded by a grant received from the Spencer Educational Foundation, Salma joined 3 other DFC students and 4 students from the four-year UST to attend industry talks, explore the convention’s Marketplace, meet with various insurance companies and individuals, and soak in the largest gathering of RM&I professionals in the western hemisphere!

Born and raised in St. Paul, Salma choose to start her college career at the DFC because of her older brother’s experience attending. She loved how DFC has created a beautiful community where everyone (faculty and students alike) are looking out for, and supporting, each other. It was at DFC that Salma first became interested in the RM&I industry, and actuarial science in particular. Prof. Mike Axtell (associate director of UST’s RM&I program) spoke to DFC students about the various opportunities in the RM&I industry, and Salma found herself excited to hear about how she could utilize her love of mathematics to have a rewarding career in an industry that strives to help people. She is looking forward to starting her major coursework this summer and learning more about the industry through her involvement with UST’s chapter of GIS.

In Her Own Words

Where are you from? St. Paul born and raised!

How did you get interested in the RM&I world? Dr. Mike came to DFC to play up the industry and careers, I had no firm thoughts prior to that. If the RM&I industry is wanting me, Salma is interested!

How did you enjoy RISKWorld? Everything I could have imagined – fantastical and exhilarating.

How did you select DFC to start you college career? My older brother went and loved it. It felt like a no-brainer due to the support provided (academic and financial). Plus, purple is my favorite color.

What did you enjoy most about your two-years at DFC? I really connected with everyone on a human level – we are all students but humans before that. The community is really beautiful with everyone pulling together to help everyone succeed.

Why RM&I? I really like using data to make everyday life better. I want to make things easier using science and math to implement and improve.

July 24, 2025 by Lindsay Mayernik

Alumni

Alumni Spotlight: McClain Beaudette, ’24

Photo of McClain Beaudette, ’24

McClain Beaudette is a 2024 University of St. Thomas graduate. He majored in Marketing Management, with an RM&I certificate. He joined the St. Thomas chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, and after networking with industry professionals, registered for the RM&I certificate, in order to pursue a career in insurance. During an internship with Farmer’s Insurance, he gained a new appreciation for the fast paced nature and opportunity for lifelong learning within the industry. His coursework continued to expose him to new facets of the insurance industry, and new connections with insurance professionals. He accepted an internship with Munich Re, following a connection made at the 2023 GIS national convention, which he received funding to attend through the Spencer Educational Grant. Following that internship, he was offered a position in their Graduate Trainee Program, which has led to a full-time role as an underwriter. “None of this would be possible though without the support that I have received from the RM&I and Actuarial faculty as they have provided industry insights and support throughout my years here. I cannot wait to see what the program becomes and the opportunity for more and more students to get into insurance.”

July 24, 2025 by Lindsay Mayernik

Academics

Course Spotlight: Property and Casualty

Wesley Griffiths, a 25 year insurance industry veteran and Actuary at Travelers, teaches this dynamic course.

During the Spring semester, St. Thomas again offered a two credit Property/Casualty Insurance course. It covers everything from the basics of negligence and tort law, to personal insurance coverages (auto, home), and then delves into the world of commercial insurance with sections focused on liability, workers compensation, commercial property, as well as crime and surety bonds. The course is a mix of lecture, industry speakers, and group discussions and projects which allow the students the chance to go deeper on emerging topics in the industry.

Wesley Griffiths, a 25 year insurance industry veteran and Actuary at Travelers, is serving as the course instructor this year. “I’ve enjoyed meeting the students and introducing them to the exciting world of property and casualty insurance. At its core, our industry is about helping people when bad things happen. We don’t talk about that enough and that message is really resonating with the students.” Griffiths said. He has recruited several industry professionals in the Twin Cities to join him each week and speak to the students about their career journeys into insurance, what they do, what challenges are facing the industry, and to share some advice on the transition from college to full time work. “Getting in front of students, sharing different career opportunities, and bringing insurance to life through real stories is how we get more students interested in the industry. They don’t know what they don’t know, so the exposure matters!”

The course had full enrollment this Spring and includes students with varying majors from Finance, Marketing, Management, Business Law, Actuarial Science, Data Analytics, and Journalism. “Whether these students pursue careers within insurance or not, my hope is that being exposed to these concepts makes them more informed consumers of these products and makes them better personal risk managers in their everyday lives.”

July 8, 2025 by lang2456

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