Ameritas gift supports UNL actuarial science education

The gift allows an annual stipends to be awarded to outstanding actuarial science faculty members.

Recognized as being among the best in the nation, the actuarial science program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration has received a $500,000 gift from Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of Lincoln to support outstanding faculty members.

The company established the Ameritas Actuarial Faculty Fellowship Fund as a permanent endowment at the University of Nebraska Foundation. The fund enables the university to award one or more annual stipends to actuarial science faculty members who excel in teaching, scholarly research and creative activities.

Actuarial science is the professional practice that specializes in quantifying risks associated with uncertain future events, which is why JoAnn M. Martin, president and CEO of Ameritas, said skilled and well-educated actuaries are vital to the insurance industry.

“We’re honored to support the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s outstanding actuarial science education program,” Martin said. “This endowed fund will help to ensure the College of Business Administration remains on the leading edge in advancing actuarial research and teaching practices and will provide for continued excellence in developing future generations of actuarial professionals.”

Donde Plowman, the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business Administration, said the fellowship will help the college “attract and keep the best faculty members who inspire and motivate students.”

“We’re especially grateful to Ameritas for sharing our commitment to produce well-educated graduates who will make significant contributions to the financial security of individuals, organizations and society,” Plowman said.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is one of the first schools to be recognized as a Center of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries. According to Plowman, this designation emphasizes the program’s strong academic curriculum, tenured faculty, connections with industry and high quality graduates.

The gift from Ameritas also supports the university’s current Campaign for Nebraska fundraising initiative and a priority to increase support for the university’s faculty members in an effort to both retain and recruit top teachers and researchers.

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and its affiliated companies provide a wide range of insurance and financial services to customers throughout the United States, including life insurance; annuities; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments and public finance. Securities and investment advisory services offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Corp., member FINRA/SIPC. For more information, visit ameritas.com.

The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that has connected the dreams and passions of donors to the mission of the university for more than 75 years. In 2011, donors gave a record $172 million in gifts for scholarships, academic programs, medical research and other priorities at the university. The foundation’s current fundraising initiative, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, concludes in 2014. For more information, visit campaignfornebraska.org.

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