Lynne McChristian
Senior Instructor of Finance and Director of the Office of Risk Management and Insurance Research
Lynne McChristian is the director of the Office of Risk Management & Insurance Research at Gies College of Business, where she is also a senior instructor teaching insurance and enterprise risk management classes. Prior to joining the College in 2019, she was on the faculty at Florida State University and served as executive director of FSU’s Center for Risk Management Education & Research. McChristian’s corporate career includes more than 14 years working in the Florida office of the United Services Automobile Association. She has also been a consultant with the Insurance Information Institute and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, which are insurance industry trade groups. McChristian has a bachelor's in journalism from Marquette University and a master's in mass communication from the University of Arkansas.
Listings
Educational Background
- Certification, Human Resources Program, University of South Florida, 2004
- Master of Arts, Communication, University of Arkansas, 1981
- B.A., Journalism, Marquette University, 1976
Positions Held
- Director of the Office of Risk Management and Insurance Research, Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2021 to present
- Senior Instructor of Finance, Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2019 to present
- Executive Director, Center for Risk Management Education & Research at Florida State University, 2016-2018
- Faculty, Florida State University, 2015-2018
- Non-resident Scholar, Insurance Information Institute, 2008-2019
- Executive Director, USAA, 2003-2008
- Communications Director, USAA, 1993-2003
- Communications Manager, RISCORP Management Services, 1991-1993
- Visiting Professor, University of South Florida, 1989-1991
- Marketing Specialist, USAA Life Insurance Co., 1987-1989
- Director of Marketing & Advertising, Fair Oaks Ranch, 1983-1987
Recent Publications
Other Publications
Presentations
- McChristian, L. (2023). The Cost Drivers of Insurance. Annual conference , Illinois Life & Health Insurance Council.
- McChristian, L., Morrison, J., & Sriver, R. (2022). Modeling & Climate Risk: Evolving Models for Disaster Risk. Future of Insurance: Climate Change 2022, ORMIR & AXIS.
- McChristian, L., Romeo, R., Fuller, R., & Tabendeh, A. (2022). Evolution of Reinsurance in a Changing Climate. Future of Insurance: Climate Change 2022, ORMIR & AXIS.
- McChristian, L. (2021). Life/Health Insurance Risks. Risk Analytics Symposium: Actuarial Innovations to Emerging Risks, UIUC, Actuarial Science Sept.
- McChristian, L. (2020). Are We Doing Enough to Convince People About the Importance of Flood Insurance? Hurricane Preparedness During a Pandemic, Georgia Tech and the City of Savannah.
- McChristian, L. (2020). Coronavirus and Insurance. Gies Covid Webinar Series, Gies College of Business.
- McChristian, L. (2019). Together We Do More: Building Industry & Academic Partnerships. Risk Analytics Symposium, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
- McChristian, L. (2019). General Session: Flood Insurance. National Hurricane Conference.
Honors and Awards
- Dean's Impact Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2023
Service
- Consultant, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, 2022 to present
- Guest Speaker, Hurricane Preparedness Conference (partnership with Georgia Tech), 2020-2020
Current Courses
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Introduction to Insurance (FIN 230) Introductory course on the role of insurance in society; covers insurance terminology, common personal insurance policies (auto, health, life and homeowners) and current issues.
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Risk Management Academy (FIN 393) The Risk Management Academy is an enrichment program for outstanding undergraduates from across campus. The nature of risk management requires a knowledge base that includes majors from a number of colleges and departments including Finance, Actuarial Science, Atmospheric Sciences, Financial Planning, Engineering, Math and Statistics. RMA provides a select program that focuses on developing future business leaders in risk management via enhanced academic and career opportunities. Students are normally invited to participate by the faculty during their freshman or sophomore year, when they are enrolled in FIN 230 and other basic RM courses. If inducted/accepted, students participate throughout their sophomore, junior and senior years. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 8 hours.
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Corporate Risk Management (FIN 433) Case study course examining how corporations deal with pure risk.
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Foundations in Risk Management (FIN 530) This course introduces risk management including basic concepts and techniques of pure risk and financial risk management. Corporate hazard risk management including insurance and securitization of pure risks will be covered in detail. Insurer risk management will be examined including reinsurance, loss reserving, underwriting of risks, and catastrophic risk management. Students will also be introduced to Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).