ECU College of Business receives $500,000 to establish new faculty chair

GREENVILLE, NC (August 28, 2007) — The College of Business at East Carolina University announced the establishment of a faculty chair for risk and insurance, thanks to an endowment from the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC).

Officials announced the gift at a luncheon held at ECU, where IIANC past presidents, board members, and staff members presented the first $200,000 of the $500,000 donation. The chair will be named the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina Distinguished Professor.

“We are deeply grateful to the IIANC for its investment in our students and programs,” Dr. Frederick Niswander, dean of the College of Business. “Their support will help us provide superior instruction in risk and insurance and will also strengthen the link between the insurance community and the College of Business.”

IIANC chief executive officer Robert F. Bird said, “Insurance is a vital part of our economy and business operations.  Our goal for this program is to further equip the students at ECU with insurance knowledge that will be valuable to them as they become the business leaders and owners in the future. In addition, we want to inform students of the career opportunities in the insurance industry, particularly the opportunities in insurance agencies throughout the state.”

The endowed chair in the College of Business will be a key component of the undergraduate business concentration in risk and insurance to be offered by the finance department. The program will be developed by faculty during the current academic year.

ECU is one of several IIANC is he organization is completing a program of endowed scholarships at colleges and universities across the state.