SRIA elects Epermanis to board of directors

Ole Miss faculty member Karen Epermanis is one of the newest members on the board of directors for a prominent organization in her field. Epermanis, an assistant professor specializing in corporate risk management in the UM School of Business Administration, was nominated and elected by the 122 members of the Southern Risk and Insurance Association to become a member of their board for the current term, which started November 2002.

“I was very honored to have been chosen to serve,” Epermanis said. “I think as far as recognition (for the University), it’s good. It strengthens the visibility as well as the research and teaching areas.”

The SRIA is an organization of professors, professionals, retirees and graduate students from the United States and Europe who focus on insurance and risk management, said SRIA President Brenda Wells.

“Our purpose is to bring together academicians from all over the globe – we have international members who attend our meetings – to share ideas about research, teaching and development of academic programs,” Wells said. “We are, primarily, a group of colleagues who meet once a year to share ideas.”

The organization sponsors an annual meeting in which its members present research papers on topics like insurance regulation, health care, public policy, finance and international insurance issues, according to SRIA’s Web site.

While nominating for the current term, 2002 Nominations Committee Chair Kevin Eastman said the three-member committee looked for active members in the association and members who “have a recognized standing among their colleagues in the organization and the profession.” After the committee submitted four candidates for the general board member positions, Eastman said the SRIA members elected two, including Epermanis.

Wells said Epermanis’ teaching and risk management experiences add an important perspective to the board.

“Karen does fantastic research and is well-respected in risk management as well as academia,” Wells said. “ I have been very impressed with all her efforts and think she is a top-notch colleague.”

Epermanis will serve on the board for three years, a duration in which she said she wants to increase SRIA’s membership.

“I want to see the association continue to grow and become stronger in the quality of papers presented at the annual conference,” Epermanis said. Under SRIA’s bylaws, when Epermanis’ board term is over, Eastman said she can run for secretary-treasurer. If she wins that election, Epermanis can gradually work her way up the ranks to SRIA president, Eastman said.

“As you can see, a position on the board represents a significant and long-term commitment to service to our profession,” Eastman said. “ From an initial election to the board to final service as immediate past president, the service to the organization may last as long as eight years.” Epermanis has been a member of SRIA since 1997. Before joining the UM faculty in 2001, Epermanis taught at the University of Hartford.

 --Carlie Kollath