University of Florida launches Risk Management and Insurance program with new minor

Beginning in fall 2027, pending curriculum approvals, students will have the opportunity to pursue a minor in Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business through its new program. The program is being designed to help students enter an industry with broad career opportunities while helping employers build the next generation of talent. 

The program, led by Clinical Professor Steven Tufts, expands risk management and insurance education at Florida’s flagship university at a time of great need for industry expertise across the state. According to a 2025 survey, housing and property insurance costs are the top issue among Floridians. Insurance also ranks as the fourth highest personal household expense in the state. 

“Few industries affect the daily life of Floridians more directly than insurance,” Tufts said. “Insurance determines whether families can afford to own homes, businesses can open or expand, lenders can finance transactions, communities can recover after natural disasters and employers can provide benefits. All of these examples highlight why we should be preparing students for jobs in this high-impact discipline.”

For students interested in a career in the insurance industry, the job outlook is significant. Across the nation, an estimated 3 million people are employed by insurance companies or insurance brokerages. In Florida, jobs like underwriter, claims adjuster, risk manager, actuary and sales/agent are estimated to employ close to 60,000 people. 

Among those who built their careers in the insurance industry are several Warrington alumni who have helped make the new program possible. Harold “Hal” A. Gokey (BSBA ‘50) spent his career in insurance before establishing, with his wife Matilda, the Harold A. Gokey Endowment for Risk Management, Insurance and Financial Planning, which will serve as an initial resource for the program. 

Upon learning that Warrington was interested in developing an insurance program, alumnus and Amwins Executive Vice President Tom Tio (BSBA ‘90) stepped in, seeing an opportunity to introduce students to the industry that has been the foundation of his 36-year career. 

“I fell into this business by chance. I really wish I had known about it when I first graduated,” Tio said. “Looking at how insurance touches every business in the world and how insulated it is from economic downturns, this industry is an important consideration for any well-educated UF business college graduate. We need more Gators and less Bulldogs in this business!”

The Risk Management and Insurance program will combine courses designed to teach students the skills they’ll need to succeed in insurance-related roles. The program will emphasize real-world learning opportunities ranging from speaking and networking events with those working in the industry to internships where they can put their skills into practice.

“The new program presents an opportunity to benefit both students and employers with a hands-on training program in the insurance industry,” said Tufts, who spent 15 years of his own career in the industry before joining Warrington’s faculty in 2017. “Our curriculum will be designed to focus on the practical skills and knowledge that Warrington graduates can use right out of the gate in their careers.”

Like Gokey and Tio, alumni and industry leaders will play a significant role in helping to bring the Risk Management and Insurance program to life. To learn more about how you can support insurance education at Warrington, please contact Steven Tufts.