Kennedys Partners with St. John’s to Boost Diversity in Insurance Industry

Kennedys Law LLP, a global law firm specializing in litigation and dispute resolution, is partnering with St. John’s University to increase diversity within the insurance industry through the creation of the Kennedys Scholarships at the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science (GSRM), part of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business. 

With an annual pledge of $25,000 a year for four years to be used immediately in each annual period, this multiyear scholarship fund provides one or more partial annual scholarships to students pursuing a graduate degree in risk management, insurance, and actuarial science who identify as a member of an underrepresented group and/or as a first-generation college student. The scholarships, which will be granted beginning this year, are earmarked for graduate students studying at GSRM. The School has a leading reputation in insurance, training actuaries, underwriters, claims specialists, and other insurance professionals. 

“For many years, the Greenberg School of Risk Management at St. John’s has worked closely with Kennedys to strengthen experiential education offerings for our students,” said Brandon W. Sweitzer, Dean, GSRM. “With these new and generous scholarships, Kennedys continues to deepen this cooperation—thereby underpinning the University’s resolute and enhanced aim to level the playing field for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.”

Kennedys already has a close professional relationship with the University; US partner Christopher R. Carroll sits on the Advisory Board of GSRM’s Center for the Study of Insurance Regulation. The firm also sponsors various annual initiatives, including offering seminars globally on insurance law to visiting students from the University’s international study program.

“The events of 2020 revealed the true lack of diversity in US workplaces, including in both the legal and insurance professions,” said Meg F. Catalano, US Managing Partner and member of Kennedys’ Global Strategy Board. “Access to education is key to improving social mobility, yet many college graduates from less privileged backgrounds struggle to fund postgraduate study at universities like St. John’s that provide a pipeline for the next generation of insurance professionals. We hope that this program gives a diverse range of students the opportunity to specialize in their chosen field and to embark on successful careers.”

To obtain an application for the scholarship or for more information, contact Maureen Furlong Weber, Director, Greenberg School of Risk Management, at 212-277-5111; [email protected].