In this episode of URMIA Matters, host Caitlin Cai sits down with Ashley Caldwell of Gannon University and former student intern Tomoki Kouchi to explore the impact of URMIA’s Be the Change Student Internship program. Together, they share how the program created a meaningful, 13-week risk management internship with funding from URMIA’s Be the Change Internship program. They discuss how that allowed Tomo to help develop a campus risk assessment tool and business continuity planning resources. Listeners will gain insight into the benefits of hosting a student intern, and why investing in the next generation of risk management professionals benefits both students and higher education institutions alike. We’ll talk about how the internship application works, what the expectations are, what Tomoki and Ashley’s experience was like, and what’s happened since the internship ended.

Show Notes
URMIA Scholarships
URMIA’s Be the Change Scholarship – Student Internship

Guests

• Ashley Caldwell, Assistant to the Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations and Risk Management and Insurance Coordinator - Gannon University
• Tomoki Kouchi, Student/Former Intern – Gannon University

Guest Host

• Caitlin Cai, Risk and Insurance Program Manager - University of Tennessee System

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In this episode of URMIA Matters, host Julie Groves sits down with Honors Committee members Elaine Del Rossi and Jabari Lewis to introduce URMIA’s new Risk Hero Spotlight, a recognition designed to celebrate the everyday champions of higher education risk management. The conversation explores why the award was created, who is eligible, and how it shines a light on the often unseen individuals across campus who make meaningful contributions to safety, resilience, and risk awareness. The Risk Hero Spotlight recognizes those whose innovative ideas and proactive actions help protect their institutions. Tune in to learn how this new recognition broadens the definition of a risk hero and how you can nominate a colleague, team member, or even yourself for this exciting new honor.

Show Notes

• URMIA Risk Hero Spotlight
• Nominate a Risk Hero
• URMIA Honors & Awards

Guests

• Elaine Del Rossi, Senior Strategy Advisor - Cigna
• Jabari Lewis, Executive Director of Risk Management & Insurance - Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

Host

• Julie Groves, Director of Risk Services - Wake Forest University

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In this episode of URMIA Matters, guest host Caitlin Cai from the University of Tennessee is joined by Lavern Miles and Kathy Peeling from the University of Maryland, College Park, and Melanie Bennett from United Educators for a focused, practical conversation on Enterprise Risk Management for those just starting out. The episode presents ERM as a shared, ongoing process for identifying, prioritizing, and managing institution‑wide risks, with strong emphasis on leadership support, clear communication, and campus engagement. Using real‑world experience from the higher‑ed community, our guests discuss how ERM can move beyond compliance to support better decision‑making by connecting risk to strategy, using data and monitoring to guide action, and leveraging peer networks and professional resources to build programs that grow and adapt over time. Whether you are brand new to ERM or looking to strengthen an existing approach, this episode offers clear insights and relatable examples to help you get started with confidence.

Show Notes

• Join URMIA’s Higher Ed ERM Roundtable Community
• URMIA’s Risk Inventory
• UE - Enterprise Risk Management Resource Collection
• ISO 31000

Guests

• Lavern Miles, Director of Enterprise Risk Management - University of Maryland, College Park
• Kathy Peeling, Assistant Director for Risk Management - University of Maryland, College Park
• Melanie Bennett, Senior Risk Management Counsel - United Educators

Guest Host

• Caitlin Cai, Risk and Insurance Program Manager - University of Tennessee System

Connect with URMIA & URMIA with your network
-Share /Tag in Social Media @urmianetwork
-Not a member? Join ->www.urmia.org/join
-Email | contactus@urmia.org

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