Kathryn Shoalmire
As project coordinator for the risk management and insurance program at the University of Mississippi, Kathy Shoalmire (JD 88) brought 27 years of institutional experience into the position. After a year on the job, she shared some of the highlights of the last several months and her observations about the program.
“I have been impressed first and foremost by the leadership of the program both historical and present day,” said Shoalmire, who formerly worked as the childbirth educator and international board-certified lactation consultant at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. “Larry Cox (former RMI chair) and Camille Mitchell (former RMI project coordinator) did an excellent job laying the foundation for this program. Andre (Liebenberg, RMI chair) has built on that success and has taken the program to new heights.”
Shoalmire said she is amazed not only by the impressive credentials of the insurance advisory board members but also by their commitment to the program.
“The first meeting that I attended, we had board members from all over the state, Tennessee and California who came to a Wednesday afternoon meeting (lunch not included) that lasted for roughly two hours,” she said. “This showed me right off that there was something special about this program. I have continued to be impressed at the subsequent meetings by the attendance, leadership and desire to expand the RMI program. Their commitment is to the students, Ole Miss and the insurance industry.”
Shoalmire’s experience as a staff assistant in Washington, D.C., for Sens. John Stennis and Thad Cochran helped prepare her for her current responsibilities.
“I had worked in government, law and medicine and thought before I retired that I would like to try the academic realm,” she said. “I wanted something part time that allowed me flexibility to be self-directed and project focused. The job description seemed to fit, and after meeting with Andre and the interviewing team, I was sold on this job. I might add, I have not been disappointed. I don’t think that I have ever worked in a more professional environment.”
As project coordinator, Shoalmire handles the printing and mailing of RMI’s annual resume book, two RMI career fairs, the insurance symposium, golf tournament, plus four advisory board meetings. Regarding the career fairs, she said the highlight is the industry representatives’ enthusiasm about meeting the Ole Miss RMI students.
“The first career fair I organized was fall 2014,” she said. “I was nervous about how things would go, but during the second career fair in February 2015, I was relaxed and found myself feeling like a proud parent. I was able to go from focusing on my performance to watching as our students took a major leap in seeking to establish themselves in their chosen profession.”
From December through March, Shoalmire said she basically lived and breathed the insurance symposium.
“There is a great deal of effort that goes on behind the scenes,” she said. “Andre and the symposium committee from our advisory board secure the speakers. This year, we had an impressive lineup, which resulted in a record attendance. To see all the individual components come together to form a successful event is beautiful. I truly loved it.”
Her first academic year ended with the golf tournament, which gave her a fresh perspective on the game.
“I have a 20-year-old son who grew up playing competitive golf, so I’ve spent hundreds of hours on the golf course with him,” said Shoalmire, who played for a few years before he was born. “I see why some people refer to golf as a disease instead of a game. The golf tournament committee and Annandale (Golf Club) made this essentially an easy task. We had an excellent turnout, and my son got to play. I was very proud when I learned he won longest drive, estimated to be 340 yards.”
Trying to update and maintain the RMI mailing list has been a challenging task for Shoalmire.
“My first email was sent to about 1,600 people. Within an hour, I received a call from Sam, our IT person,” she said. “There were so many returned emails that I clogged the system. He gently explained that sending this many emails looks like phishing. I learned and have now culled the list to about 900.”
So far this year, Shoalmire has been busy helping to re-establish the chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, an international business fraternity for students of insurance, risk management and actuarial science.
“Andre and Steve (Fier, assistant professor of finance) have asked me to take a more active role in working with the students,” she said. “I tend to be very people oriented, so that has been enjoyable. I have joined them for meetings and took a group of officers to the GIS conference in Chicago.”
The chapter officers are enthusiastic and dedicated to getting the chapter moving in the right direction.
“It is a great privilege to be a part of this process, and I appreciate the confidence that Andre and Steve have placed in me,” Shoalmire said. “As this year comes to a close, I am looking forward to deepening my relationship with our advisory board, sponsors, alumni, students and the industry representatives.”
A Starkville native, Shoalmire earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis in history and political science from Mississippi State University. Following a career in Washington, she graduated from the Ole Miss law school in 1988. Prior to working at Baptist, she worked for several years with Arnold, Bass and Associates, a science consulting firm that specialized in accident reconstruction. She recently passed a rigorous exam to renew her certification as an international board-certified lactation consultant. Shoalmire continues to do private consulting in her spare time.