The Peter J. Tobin College of Business Ranked in Top Ten

February 01, 2010

Steven D. Papamarcos, Dean of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University, is pleased to announce that the Tobin College’s School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science is one of nine schools in the United States named as a Center of Actuarial Excellence (CAE) by the Society of Actuaries (SOA), the world’s leading professional organization in the actuarial field.

The five-year CAE designation is granted to schools meeting rigorous criteria related to degree offerings, curricula, the number and quality of students, faculty composition, industry connections, and faculty research/scholarship.  Beyond the prestige of being selected as a Center of Actuarial Excellence, the School of Risk Management is eligible to compete for substantial multi-year education and research grants from the SOA. 

“We are thrilled to have been designated as one of the top actuarial programs in North America”, said Ellen Thrower, Executive Director of the School of Risk Management. “This recognition is a tribute to the quality of our faculty, students, and alumni, as well as the school’s long-standing commitment to preparing leaders for the actuarial profession,” she added. 

Commenting on the award, Dean Papamarcos said “This recognition is a testament to the international stature and strong industry ties of the School of Risk Management’s actuarial program. And it is a distinction with meaning. CAE status is designed to assure prospective students of a top-tier educational experience, and employers of a well-prepared graduate. We are extremely pleased to be so recognized”. 

In addition to St. John’s University, the other eight U.S.-based Centers of Actuarial Excellence are: University of Connecticut, Drake University, Georgia State University, Illinois State University, University of Iowa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Temple University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Three other North American Universities also received the CAE designation: Universite Laval, University of Manitoba, and University of Waterloo.

For more than seventy-five years the Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University has offered opportunities for individuals from throughout the world to study in New York City’s dynamic business and cultural environment. The curriculum emphasizes the cross-functional understanding of business practice. Analytic, problem-solving, collaborative, and communications skills are featured, and innovative approaches to business education—such as hands-on management consulting projects—offer real-world experience. Students are also afforded the opportunity to study at St. John’s campus in Rome, Italy, one of the first European campuses established by an American university.  

The School of Risk Management was founded in 1901 as the Insurance Society of New York and over the years evolved into The College of Insurance (TCI).  In June 2001, TCI merged with St. John’s University, becoming a school of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business.  Located in New York City’s downtown financial district, the School of Risk Management awards undergraduate, M.B.A., and M.S. degrees in the insurance, risk management and actuarial science disciplines.  Through its Center for Professional Education, the School of Risk Management also provides education, training and consulting services to the industry, governments and regulators worldwide.