Professor (Emerita) of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science
Prior to her retirement in December 2010, Dr. Thrower served as a Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at St. John’s University. She was Executive Director of the School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science from June 2001 to December 2010. She is President Emeritus of the College of Insurance, where she served as President from June 1988 to June 2001 (when the College merged with St. John’s University). Previously she was a Professor of Insurance at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she also served as Director of The Insurance Center.
As Executive Director of the School of Risk Management, Dr. Thrower worked tirelessly to maintain strong industry relationships with the SRM. She led an impressive Board of Overseers and annually organized the industry’s renowned Insurance Leader of the Year dinner, bringing millions in scholarship donations to the University.
Dr. Thrower has received numerous awards recognizing her accomplishments. She was named “Woman of the Year” by the Association of Professional Insurance Women, and Business Insurance named her one of the 100 Leading Women in the Insurance Industry. She was the recipient of the National Insurance Industry Association’s Award of Distinction for her work with minorities, and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies presented her with The Chairman’s Award, the highest award given by NAMIC, for her contributions in education. In January 2011 the SRM’s Board of Overseers honored her by naming its new student center the Ellen Thrower Center for Apprenticeship and Student Services, and she was awarded an honorary doctorate by St. John’s University in June 2011. Dr. Thrower continues to be active on SRM’s Board of Overseers, as well as serving on outside boards, including those of The Risk Foundation and United Educators Insurance, among others.