Steve Nameth, dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State University at Salem, recently hosted a luncheon for business students to learn more about the insurance industry and the degree that could help get them through its doors.
Kent State Salem offers a bachelor’s degree in insurance studies. The degree was launched in 2012 and was the first such program to be offered in Ohio in more than 30 years. It is offered as a completely online degree program, yet students can also earn the degree through a combination of online and on-campus classes at any Kent State campus.
Guest speakers at the event included Janie Geis, a corporate officer for Wichert Insurance; Andi Starkey, the learning delivery manager for Westfield Insurance’s Westfield University; and Jennifer Buck, a current student in the insurance studies program and a Westfield Insurance employee.
The students learned that the insurance industry is a growing industry, with thousands of well-paying jobs available throughout Ohio. The guest speakers also emphasized that working in the insurance industry is not “just selling insurance.”
Geis is a 2005 graduate of the Kent State College of Business Administration. At Wichert, she works closely with public entities, including fire departments and local governments.
Starkey also graduated from Kent State, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism/mass communication (radio/TV sales and management) with a minor in business management. She has worked in the insurance industry for 20 years in customer service, underwriting and learning operations.
Buck currently works at Westfield Insurance while completing her degree. She serves as the president of Gamma Iota Sigma at Kent State Salem, the professional insurance and risk management fraternity.
Kent State will host an Insurance Industry Career Fair on Feb. 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Kent Student Center on the Kent Campus.
For more information about the bachelor’s degree in insurance studies, visit www.kent.columbiana.edu/insurance or email insurancestudies@kent.edu.
