Skip Navigation
Your browser does not appear to support JavaScript, or you have turned JavaScript off. You may use unl.edu without enabling JavaScript, but certain functions may not be available.
The Center for Insurance and Risk Management Studies is a multi-disciplinary educational, research and outreach unit located in the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Initial funding for the Center was provided by a grant from the George B. Cook Ameritas Financial Services Program in Life Insurance. The funding is in memory of the late George B. Cook, chief executive officer of Ameritas. The Center exists because of this university-industry partnership, both of whom recognize the importance of research and education in risk management and financial services.
Back to Top
The overall mission of the Center is to promote greater production and dissemination of knowledge about enterprise and personal risk management. To that end, we work to promote risk management and insurance research, coordinate risk management curriculum development across various disciplines in the College, and foster cooperation between the College and industry.
The Center supports research by both faculty and students in broad areas related to enterprise risk management by financial institutions, industrial companies, nonprofits and governments. We also encourage and support research on individual risk management and individual economic security, and on public policy affecting the interaction of individuals, companies and government. Topics studied by the Center’s researchers include risk modeling, risk pricing, incentive contracts, corporate governance, capital requirements, pensions, social security and healthcare among others. Both theoretical and practical issues will continue to be a part of the research mix of the Center.
The Center has worked recently with faculty of the Finance Department and the Actuarial Science Program to revise the insurance and risk management curriculum. A part of the curriculum revision is a plan to develop a formal risk management specialization within the Finance major. We continue to work with faculty throughout the College to encourage incorporation of enterprise risk management in courses in other departments and to generate a multi-disciplinary approach to the topic.
A part of our mission is to inform students of risk management career opportunities in insurance and financial services more generally, in consulting, and in public service. We do this through student organizations, visiting scholars and executives, internships and placement.
Richard A. DeFusco, Associate Professor of Finance, Business Finance and Investments, International Finance, B.S. 1977, M.B.A. 1979 (both from the University of Rhode Island), Ph.D. 1985 (University of Tennessee). Recent publications: International Business and Economics Research Journal and Minnesota Journal of Business. Donna Dudney, Interim Assistant Dean, Financial Institutions, Financial Markets and Investing, Managerial Economics, B.S. 1982 (Nebraska Wesleyan University), M.A. 1991, Ph.D., 1997 (both from University of Nebraska-Lincoln). Recent Publications: Journal of Financial Planning and Financial Decisions. Kathleen A. Farrell, Associate Professor of Finance, Corporate Finance, Financial Institutions and, B.B.A. 1986 (Kent State University), Ph.D. 1994 (University of Georgia). Recent publications: Journal of Accounting and Economics and Journal of Corporate Finance. Geoffrey C. Friesen, Assistant Professor of Finance, Actuarial Science, Financial Institutions, Financial Markets and Investing, Insurance, B.S. 1995, (University of Nebraska –Lincoln), Ph.D. 2003 (University of Iowa). Recent Publications: Journal of Financial Markets and Journal of Risk and Insurance. John M. Geppert, Associate Professor of Finance, Investments, Financial Institutions, B.S. 1984 (University of Nebraska at Omaha), M.S. 1987, Ph.D. 1989 (both from Purdue University). Recent publications: Journal of Financial Research and Journal of Business and Economic Research. Gordon V. Karels, Nebraska Bankers Association College Professor of Banking and Chair of Finance, Banking & Financial Markets, Corporate Finance, B.A. 1973, (Southwest Minnesota State), M.S. 1975 (South Dakota State University), M.S. 1977, Ph.D. 1979 (both from Purdue University). Recent Publications: Applied Financial Economics and The Journal of Economics and Finance. Yijia Lin, Assistant Professor of Finance, Risk Management, Insurance, B.A. 1999, M.A. 2002 (both from Beijing Technology & Business University), Ph.D. 2006 (Georgia State University). Recent Publications: Journal of Rusk and Insurance. Warren Luckner, David P. Hayes Memorial Chair in Actuarial Science, Director of Actuarial Science Program, Fellow-Society of Actuaries, B.A. 1968 (Luther College), M.A. 1970 (University of Maryland, College Park), M.A. 1972 (University of Kentucky, Lexington). Mostafa Mashayekhi, Assistant Professor of Actuarial Science, Option Theory, BSc 1975, MSc 1976 London, Ph.D. 1990 Michigan State. David Olson, James & H. K. Stuart Chancellor’s Distinguished Chair, Information Systems, Operations Management, B.S. 1966, Mathematics (South Dakota School of Mines & Technology), M.B.A. 1978 (Kearney State College), Ph. D. 1981 (University Nebraska Lincoln). Manferd O. Peterson, W. W. Marshall College Professor and Director, Center for Risk Management Studies, Banking Finance, B.A. 1966 (Wisconsin State-River Falls), M.A. 1968, Ph.D. 1971 (both from Michigan State University). Recent Publications: Journal of Economics and Finance and Journal of Financial Planning. Colin M. Ramsey, E. J. Faulkner Professor, Life Contingencies, Pensions, BSc 1979 (City University-London England) M. Math 1980, Ph.D. 1984 (both from University of Waterloo) ASA 1984 (Society of Actuaries). Recent Publications: North American Actuarial Journal and The Journal of Economics. George Rejda, V. J. Skutt Distinguished Professor of Insurance, Risk Management, Life Insurance, Charted Life Underwriter 1964 (The American College), B.S. 1957, M. A. 1958 (both from Creighton University), PhD. 1961 (University of Pennsylvania). Recent Publications: Journal of Insurance Issues, The Journal of Risk and Insurance. David Smith, Ray Dein Professor and Deloitte Scholar, B.A. (Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.), M.B.A. (University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School), Ph.D. (University of Illinois). Emre Unlu, Assistant Professor of Finance, Corporate Finance, Investments, Financial Institutions, Real Estate Finance, B.S. 1999 (M.E.T.U-Turkey), M.B.A. 2002, M.A. 2005, M.S. 2005, Ph.D. 2007 (all from University of Missouri-Columbia). Thomas S. Zorn, George B. Cook/Ameritas Professor of Finance, Corporate Finance, Financial Economics, A.B. 1964, M.A. 1970, Ph.D. 1978 (all from UCLA). Recent Publications: Journal of Financial Planning and International Business and Economics Research Journal.
