FSU risk management/insurance program earns prestigious award

Cassandra Cole is the department chair of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate, and Legal Studies at Florida State University.
Cassandra Cole is the department chair of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate, and Legal Studies at Florida State.

The Florida State University College of Business has been awarded the Global Centers of Insurance Excellence (GCIE) designation by the International Insurance Society for its highly ranked risk management/insurance program.

The designation is awarded to universities and colleges with outstanding risk management and insurance programs and in selecting designees, the society considers such factors as accreditation/ranking, curriculum, involvement with industry and faculty qualifications. A formal announcement of GCIE designees will be made at the International Insurance Society’s 2017 Global Insurance Forum in London, England, July 17-20.

“This award is a result of the collective efforts of the faculty in the Dr. William T. Hold/The National Alliance Program in Risk Management and Insurance in collaboration with our executive council, donors, supporters and alumni,” said Cassandra Cole, chair of the Department of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate and Legal Studies, which houses the program. “We are proud to be recognized by the International Insurance Society for our work in advancing insurance education and promoting strong connections with the industry.”

Florida State’s risk management program is one of the oldest and largest in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranks it No. 5 among public institutions and No. 7 in the nation (2017). A recent study by Morris G. Danielson and Jean L. Heck of Saint Joseph’s University identifies three of Florida State’s RMI faculty members as the most prolific authors in leading risk management journals during the past 10 years: No. 1 Kathleen McCullough; No. 2 Cassandra Cole and No. 7 Patricia Born.

The aim of the GCIE program is to encourage universities to play an integral role in advancing insurance knowledge, to enhance insurance research and intellectual capital development, and to build connections between the insurance industry and top-tier academic programs and faculty. The GCIE designation is retained for five years and thereafter extended by renewal.