In this first installment of a three‑part mini‑series honoring the 2025 Distinguished Risk Manager (DRM) Award recipients, URMIA Matters highlights the remarkable career and life of Fitzroy Smith, Assistant Vice President, Chief Risk Officer at Howard University, with guest host, Miguel Delgado, current URMIA president and Associate Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at Carnegie Mellon University, interviewing.

Fitzroy reflects on his early introduction to the insurance world through a high‑school program in Hartford, which set him on a lifelong path in risk management. With more than 25 years of experience across insurance, brokerage, captive management, local government, and over two decades in higher education, he shares the mentors, milestones, and leadership opportunities that shaped his professional journey, which culminated in the surprise of receiving the DRM Award at URMIA’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Fitzroy discusses his deep commitment to community service, including decades of involvement with the YMCA and ongoing humanitarian efforts in Jamaica following recent hurricane devastation. He also offers a glimpse into what’s ahead, from advancing risk management excellence at Howard University to continuing his lifelong passion for youth development and service.

Show Notes

URMIA’s Distinguished Risk Manager Award

Three Honored as Distinguished Risk Managers at URMIA Annual Conference

Guest

Fitzroy Smith, Assistant Vice President, Chief Risk Officer - Howard University

Guest Host

Miguel Delgado, Associate Vice President and Chief Risk Officer - Carnegie Mellon University

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In this episode of URMIA Matters, host Julie Groves is joined by Frank Cella and Matt Miller of Marsh to explore the evolving risk landscape in higher education. The discussion dives into demographic shifts, cybersecurity threats, regulatory changes, and the growing complexity of compliance. They also examine financial sustainability, employment practices, liability, the impact of AI on institutions, and the “role of the risk manager.” With insights on enterprise risk management, creative risk financing, and strategies for building resilience, this conversation offers practical guidance for risk managers navigating today’s “new normal.”

Show Notes

• Marsh White Paper: “Higher Education: Navigating the New Normal”

Guests

• Frank Cella, Managing Director, Education Industry Leader - Marsh
• Matt Miller, Senior Vice President, Placement Specialist Education Market - Marsh

Host

• Julie Groves, Director of Risk Services - Wake Forest University

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In this episode of URMIA Matters, Michelle Smith, URMIA’s Executive Director, interviews Sue Liden, URMIA’s soon to be retired (again!) Education Manger. Join us for a heartfelt conversation as we honor Sue on the eve of her retirement! From her early days in the military to building a proactive risk management program at Pacific Lutheran University, Sue shares inspiring stories of resilience, reinvention, and leadership. Discover her top tips for solo risk managers, the power of networking through URMIA, and why telling your story matters in this profession. Plus, get a peek behind the curtain at URMIA’s inner workings and hear what’s next for Sue as she embarks on new adventures. This episode is packed with wisdom, warmth, and a celebration of a career dedicated to higher education risk management—don’t miss it!

Show Notes

• URMIA Scholarships
• Volunteer with URMIA

Guest

Sue Liden, Education Manager - URMIA

Guest Host

Michelle Smith, Executive Director - URMIA

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In this episode of URMIA Matters, Michelle Smith, URMIA’s Executive Director, sits down with scholarship winners Rowela Lascolette of Hood College and Michelle Powell of Florida Polytechnic University to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of being a solo risk manager in higher education. They share their career journeys, lessons learned from the URMIA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, and practical strategies like youth protection programs, risk committee engagement, and scenario planning. The conversation highlights the value of networking, education, and community support, while offering tips for applying to the Jenny Whittington Solo Risk Manager Scholarship and staying active in URMIA’s resources and events. If you’re a solo risk manager, you don’t want to miss this valuable episode!

Show Notes

• URMIA Scholarships
• URMIA Annual Conference Scholarships - Jenny Whittington Solo Risk Manager Professional Scholarship
• Give to URMIA - Donate to support the future of higher education risk management
• Spencer Educational Foundation

Guests

• Rowela Lascolette, Hood College - Director of Business Services
• Michelle Powell, Risk Manager - Florida Polytechnic University

Guest Host

• Michelle Smith, Executive Director - URMIA

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In this special episode of URMIA Matters, all URMIA members are invited to listen in and hear the latest updates from the URMIA Executive Committee. Join us for a streamlined business meeting that will include a briefing on the Association by the president, a financial report by the treasurer, and other board officer updates. You will also hear about what the URMIA Office has been working on and what’s next for the URMIA community. Tune in to hear all the updates from the URMIA Board of Directors and what they are looking forward to in URMIA’s near future!

Show Notes

• URMIA Specialty Communities Sign-Up
• URMIA Board Nominations and Elections
• URMIA Board of Directors
• About URMIA - Strategic Pillars
• URMIAmentors
• URMIAacademy
• URMIA Matters Podcast - Meet URMIA's Newest Staff
• URMIA Staff
• URMIA - GRAC
• URMIA's updated Risk Inventory
• URMIA's 56th Annual Conference in Las Vegas (October 12-16)

Guests

Sandy Mitchell, Director, Office of Insurance - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Miguel Delgado, Associate Vice President and Chief Risk Officer - Carnegie Mellon University

Flo Hoskinson, Risk Manager - Oregon Health & Science University

Craig McAllister, Assistant Vice President, Risk Management - University of Miami

Jim Mulholland, Director of Compensation and Risk Management - Grinnell College

Keesha Trim, Sr. Director, Risk Management & Insurance - University of Richmond

Guest Host

Michelle Smith, Executive Director - URMIA

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In this episode of URMIA Matters, Julie Groves, Director of Risk Services at Wake Forest University, hosts an informative conversation with the chairs and co-chairs of the upcoming URMIA Annual Conference: Juan Azcarate, Susie Johnson, Michael Tabije, and Courtney Davis. URMIA’s 56th Annual Conference is taking place in beautiful Las Vegas from October 12–16 this year! Our guests share thoughtful insights into their roles and exciting details about the agenda, including a keynote by New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath. The conference offers a rich mix of learning opportunities, peer networking, and social events—from a lively opening reception at the Marquee nightclub to a stunning closing celebration overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. The episode wraps up with helpful travel tips for first-time attendees to make the most of their Vegas experience. URMIA Institutional Members only who listen to this episode can receive $200 off their registration using the code JoinAC2025 at time of registration!

Show Notes

Register for URMIA’s Annual Conference 2025 in Vegas!

URMIA's 56th Annual Conference Schedule

Volunteer Opportunities at URMIA's 56th Annual Conference

Guests

Juan Azcarate, Senior Director, Risk Management - Dallas College

Susie Johnson, Risk Management Director - Iowa State University

Michael Tabije, Risk Manager - University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Courtney Davis, Executive Vice President, Global Education Practice Leader - Hub International

Host

Julie Groves, Director, Risk Services - Wake Forest University

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Join guest host Michelle Smith, URMIA’s Executive Director, as she interviews Liebe Meier Swain from Cornell University and Phillip Arrington from HUB International, who discuss how access to healthcare, especially mental health services, is linked to higher graduation rates. They highlight legislative changes, including Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act revisions, which may disproportionately affect vulnerable student populations, particularly those in rural areas and on Medicaid. They emphasize the need for campus-wide collaboration, proactive planning, and financial literacy to support students amid rising healthcare costs and shifting policies. Explore the evolving landscape of student health insurance and its critical role in student success in this episode of URMIA Matters.

Show Notes

ACHA - American College Health Association

The JED Foundation

US GAO Report: Students' Health Coverage Rates Have Improved, but Barriers to Coverage Remain for Some

American Council on Education Healthcare Issue Landing Page

AAU, Associations Raise Concerns on Proposed Medicaid Cuts

Guests

Liebe Meier Swain, Director, Student Health Plan - Cornell University

Phillip Arrington, Vice President, Campus Health Solutions and SHIP Segment Leader - Hub International

Guest Host

Michelle Smith, Executive Director - URMIA

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Join guest host Michelle Smith, URMIA’s Executive Director, as she interviews four of URMIA’s newest staff members: Carrie Burnett, Project Specialist; Bowen Murphy, IT Manager; Ruth Rauluk, Resource Manager; and Adam Sieracki, Marketing Specialist. Tune in as Michelle interviews URMIA’s four newest staffers about their journey with URMIA so far and what surprised them most about our association! Hear a little about their lives, how they came to work for URMIA, and their favorite thing about working for URMIA so far. Don’t miss out on meeting some of the newest staff who help make URMIA so great!

Show Notes

URMIA Staff

Guests

Carrie Burnett
Bowen Murphy
Ruth Rauluk
Adam Sieracki

Guest Host

Michelle Smith, Executive Director

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