The Vaughan Institute

of Risk Management

August 2025 Update

Working together to inspire and equip the next generation of

Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) leaders to make

the world safer, smarter, and more secure.

Just like that, summer internships have wrapped up and a new semester is underway. Here at the Vaughan Institute, we’re looking forward to an exciting season filled with experiential learning - case competitions, corporate treks, and our signature Thought Leaders & Innovators Speaker Series. In this edition, you’ll catch a glimpse of the momentum we’ve already built, including highlights from the first week of classes.

Key Performance Indicators

As of August 29, 2025

• 370 students enrolled in the RMI program
• 311 students enrolled in the RMI major
• 43 students enrolled in the RMI certificate
• 14 students enrolled in the University of Iowa's MBA program with an RMI focus
• 2 RMI PhD students

Congratulations to our

Award-Winning RMI Faculty!

This past month, our RMI faculty participated in the World Risk & Insurance Economics Congress (WRIEC)—a global gathering of leading academic risk societies held once every five years. They received the following awards:

• From the European Group of Risk and Insurance Economists, Richard Peter was awarded the SCOR-Geneva Risk and Insurance Review Best Paper Award for the best paper in the previous years edition of the Geneva Risk and Insurance Review for his sole authored paper entitled: "The economics of self-protection: A tribute to EGRIE."
• From the American Risk and Insurance Association, Cameron Ellis was honored for the Early Career Scholarly Achievement Award for the best scholar in Risk & Insurance receiving a Ph.D. in the last 10 years.
• From the American Risk and Insurance Association, Martin F. Grace and Ty Leverty (at Iowa when the paper was written) and coauthors, were honored as recipients of the Robert I. Mehr Award for the paper published in the Journal of Risk and Insurance 10 years previous that stood the test of time.

Congratulations to our outstanding faculty, whose dedication continues to shape and inspire the next generation of RMI leaders.

Tee Off for Talent:

19th Annual Vaughan Institute Golf Outing

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Brown Deer Golf Club for a day of networking, competition, and celebration!

Your generosity helped make this year’s event a success, with 25 foursomes on the course and nearly 30 students engaging in our student seminar. We are especially grateful to our hole sponsors and after-golf networking sponsors—your support makes this event possible.

A special thank-you goes to Paige Boyer (Principal), Jacob Unmacht (Lockton), and Cal Wagner (Tippie Career Services) for serving on our student seminar panel and sharing valuable insights on the hiring process with our students.

We also extend our gratitude to UI Athletic Director Beth Goetz for her engaging Q&A session on the risks associated with collegiate athletics. We’re excited to cheer on the Hawkeyes this season!

Save the date: The 20th Annual Vaughan Institute Golf Outing will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!

Vaughan Institute & Gamma Iota Sigma

Fall Kick-Off at PinSeekers

Join us for the Vaughan Institute’s annual Fall Kick-Off at PinSeekers Golf & Driving Range on Monday, September 15, from 6:30–8:00 PM.

Hosted in partnership with Gamma Iota Sigma, this casual, high-energy event is the perfect way to meet employers in a relaxed setting before the RMI & Actuarial Science Career Fair. You’ll have the chance to network one-on-one, make connections early, and get a head start on your career search—all while enjoying great food and a fun evening with your peers.

Here’s what one past attendee had to say:

“We went to PinSeekers and there were around ten to fifteen employers there. You got to walk through, meet them all, and network. Since it was right before the Career Fair, it really eased the stress and helped me make connections early.”

— Ella VanNess, BAIS & RMI Certificate '25

Don’t miss this opportunity to build your network, practice your skills, and discover exciting internship and career possibilities in risk management and insurance.

Experience "A Day in the Future - Eastern Iowa"

Step into your future career for a day and see what it’s like to work in a professional setting. This visit is designed to help you connect the dots between classroom learning and real-world roles, explore exciting internship and career opportunities, and hear firsthand advice from professionals who were in your shoes not long ago. Don’t miss this chance to envision your own path forward.

RMI & Actuarial Science Career Fair

Wednesday, September 17 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Iowa Memorial Union – International Ballroom (2nd Floor)

Looking to launch your career in actuarial science, insurance, or risk management? Don’t miss the Actuarial Science, Insurance & Risk Management Career Fair - your opportunity to connect with leading employers, explore internships and job opportunities, and build valuable industry relationships.

What Students Need to Know

• Check-in: International Ballroom Lobby, IMU
• Bring: Student ID, copies of your resume, and professional attire
• Parking: The IMU Ramp and North Ramp may be full. Allow extra time to find parking.
• Registration: Not required, but students who register in advance on Handshake will receive reminders and updates. Register here.
• Prepare: Download the Handshake app (iOS or Android) to research employers and navigate the fair.
• Resume help: Update your resume and meet with a Peer Advisor or Career Coach for feedback. Appointments are available virtually or in person through MYUI.

Comments from a past attendee:

"Attending the career fair gave me the confidence to talk with recruiters and opened the door to an internship I never would have found otherwise. It was a turning point in my career search."

—Will Eastman, BBA, Finance, RMI '25

Take advantage of this chance to sharpen your networking skills, meet industry leaders, and take the next step toward your future in RMI.

Study RMI Abroad—London

Explore the evolution of insurance from its historical origins to today’s innovations. This course blends insights from Against the Gods: The Story of Risk with the Insurtech Innovation framework to analyze how risk has been managed and transformed through time. In London, students will visit global insurance hubs like Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Lab to see innovation in action. The course is led by Jim Lewis, a proven insurtech leader and Executive Director of the Vaughan Institute.

The application deadline is September 8. Already 11 students have registered for this exciting opportunity—don’t miss your chance to join them.

RMI Leadership, Students Speak at Big I Convention

Last week, the Vaughan Institute participated in the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa’s 2025 Education Convention, which gathered agents, professionals, educators, and students from across the state to explore the evolving landscape of risk and insurance.

Our Executive Director, Jim Lewis, emphasized the need to reshape how we tell the Risk Biz story - highlighting its positive impact, strong career opportunities, and real-world relevance. Five Vaughan Institute students - Thomas Stroud, Daniela Paladino, Gabe Clark, Ella Van Ness, and Sam Taylor - shared their perspectives on a student panel, discussing what draws young professionals to the industry, how to engage them earlier, and ways to build career pathways in rural Iowa.

We are proud of how our students represented the Vaughan Institute and grateful to the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa for creating such a meaningful platform that bridges classroom learning with industry experience.

Check out our previous issues