Gifts will benefit ULM Risk Management and Insurance program
Published Feb. 11, 2021
The University of Louisiana Monroe Foundation announces the Jeff Albright Insurance Society to benefit the nationally recognized
Risk Management and Insurance program in the College of Business and Social Sciences.
The mission of the Jeff Albright Insurance Society is to support the needs and advancement
of the ULM RMI program, while providing the industry with the opportunity to support
recruitment, development, and job placement of a well-prepared, talented candidate
pool that is focused on careers in insurance distribution.
Gifts to the Jeff Albright Insurance Society will help fund student scholarships,
student development activities, internship support, research, industrial engagement
events, and workforce and job placement strategies.
The giving society was named after Jeff Albright, CEO of the Independent Insurance
Agents & Brokers of Louisiana (IIABL) soon after he announced his planned retirement
after 40 years in the industry.
“When the IIABL contacted me about a way to honor Jeff Albright, the idea of the Jeff
Albright Society immediately came to mind,” stated Christine Berry, Ph.D., Professor
and Program Director of RMI.
Berry continued, stating, “We appreciate the IIABL for allowing ULM to be a part of
honoring Jeff in this way. Over the years, Jeff has been an advisor and mentor to
our faculty and students and a champion of insurance education across the state. The
Jeff Albright Insurance Society will ensure that, together, we are able to continue
Jeff's tireless work toward creating a better Louisiana insurance industry and to
strengthen insurance education in our state.”
To date, the ULM Foundation has received $50,000 from the IIABL, $50,000 from the
AmWins Group, and $20,000 from CRC in support of the Jeff Albright Insurance Society.
“The IIABL Board of Directors unanimously and overwhelmingly with excitement endorsed
this honor in Jeff’s name. I can think of no other individual in the last 30+ years
that has had such a profound and positive effect on the insurance industry in Louisiana.
Jeff’s passion for education has been strong since the very beginning of his career
and continues today. This is a perfect match to honor Jeff Albright,” stated Joey
O’Connor III, immediate past president of the IIABL Board of Directors.
“The ULM Risk Management and Insurance Program is outstanding and produces very high-quality
graduates which are critical to the future success of the insurance industry. It is
an honor and a privilege to work with Dr. Christine Berry and her students, and I
urge everyone in the insurance industry to support this program,” stated Albright.
About Jeff Albright
Jeff Albright fell in love with the insurance industry while taking an elective insurance
course in college.
After the elective course was completed, Albright joined the Gamma Iota Sigma insurance
fraternity, graduated with a major in insurance, and embarked on a 40-year career
as an independent insurance agent.
Beginning as a producer at an independent agency, Albright worked his way up to become
CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana.
In his nearly 30 years leading the association, he became a respected expert and advocate
for the rights of policyholders and independent agents in the insurance industry and
Louisiana Legislature.
Albright's work won numerous awards, including: two National Legislative Awards from
the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America; the IIABL Lou Daniel Award
for lifetime achievement; and a place in the Insurance Business America Hall of Fame.
About ULM Risk Management and Insurance
The nationally recognized Risk Management and Insurance program at ULM focuses on
insurance production and distribution and specializes in surplus lines insurance,
insurance for businesses that are too “risky” for standard insurance companies.
AmWINS, CRC and other national brokers and wholesalers consider ULM one of the top
universities in the nation to recruit new employees. Students graduating from the
program typically accept positions before graduation with one of these insurance agents
or brokers, surplus lines wholesalers, insurance carriers and insurance adjusting
firms.
If you would like to give to the Jeff Albright Society, please contact the ULM Foundation
at 318-342-3636.
