Bill Raab Named Inaugural Academic Director for Risk Management and Insurance Program
January 21, 2020
Contact: Office of Government and Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore has announced the appointment of Bill Raab, a long-time career professional in risk management, as the inaugural academic director of the University's Risk Management and Insurance program. In this role, Raab will provide leadership and overall program oversight, act as career adviser to students, cultivate co-op/internship positions, promote and advocate for this recently-announced Merrick School of Business program to prospective students and to Maryland's risk management and insurance community, and source partnerships and scholarships.
"I'm here to hit the ground running," Raab said. "There are so many opportunities for our students in the industry and I'm proud to be on the forefront of the state's enthusiasm for it and to be the advocate for the Merrick School of Business."
The University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business added risk management and insurance courses to its portfolio of specializations in its B.S. in Business Administration program. The specialization—the program's 13th—is a prime example of the school's emphasis on a real-world, career-focused approach to business education.
As with UB's other business administration majors, the student pursuing risk management will receive coursework in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing and statistics. The new specialization will offer 18 additional credits that dive deeper into the specifics of risk management and insurance, including tracks in corporate or healthcare risk management.
The development of the new specialization came with input from enthusiastic and engaged professionals, who believe UB was the right fit, at the right time, for the industry.
"When the Maryland Insurance Administration asked us to provide this program to help the industry's workforce deficit, we listened and moved on the opportunity," said Kathea Smith, assistant dean in the School of Business. "We're excited to have Bill on board to lead this program. Adding risk management and insurance into our portfolio of programs reinforces our power in the market to in provide practical, career-minded business education to Marylanders."
Raab comes to UB from a long career as a risk management executive. He holds a bachelor's degree from Penn State in industrial health and safety, a master's degree from Florida State University in risk management and insurance, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. He has 18 years of experience in the insurance industry and holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Risk Management certifications from the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters. In addition to his insurance experience, Raab spent a semester as a visiting professor in the Florida State Risk Management and Insurance Program.
Learn more about Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business.