Business Student Chosen as ‘Best in the Nation,’ Receives Risk Management and Insurance Internship

OXFORD, Miss. – Jennifer Rose Adams of Columbus, a senior risk management and insurance major at the University of Mississippi, has been selected from a national pool of applicants for a three-week paid internship in Bermuda in summer 2010.

This opportunity comes as a result of her outstanding performance in one of her previous internship positions with the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices.

“By selecting her for the Bermuda internship, NAPSLO essentially has recognized Jennifer Rose as the best in the nation,” said Larry Cox, the university’s Robertson Chair of Insurance.

Adams said she is excited to continue learning about the industry and gaining new perspectives that will help her develop professionally.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work in Bermuda and learn about the marketplace there. I know it will further enrich my international perspective of the industry,” Adams said.

NAPSLO accepts applications for 13 summer internships from students across the nation and then invites a small number of applicants to be interviewed, Cox said. Adams participated in this process and was selected to intern with Catlin Specialty Insurance Co., a carrier in Scottsdale, Ariz., and The Sullivan Group, a wholesale broker in Los Angeles, over the summer of 2009.

Based on her excellent performance in this internship, she was selected as one of six NAPSLO interns to attend the association’s national conference and interview for a three-week internship in either London or Bermuda. After going through this final selection process, Adams was chosen.

This latest international internship will add to a long list of excellent hands-on industry experiences that Adams has participated in over her college career. Not only did she intern with two different U.S. firms over the summer, but she also interned with Special Contingency Risks Ltd. (Willis), a Lloyd’s of London kidnap and ransom insurance broker during the spring 2009 semester.

While interning in London, Adams also took international classes and enjoyed the London theater scene. She describes living, working and going to school in another culture as challenging but enriching.

“I adapted quickly and realized that I thrived from learning in an office setting. Seeing concepts come to life right before me was a perspective changer,” Adams said. “I also did well in all of my international classes and was able to find the adequate work and school balance. I was blessed enough to have some incredible mentors who taught me so many lessons as well as gave me much thoughtful advice.”

Adams said that one benefit of completing multiple internships is that she was able to compare her experiences to gain an understanding of the differences between the international and domestic realms of the industry, as well as differences between brokerage and carrier firms.

“Because the work I did in London was strictly kidnap and ransom, it was interesting to widen my perspective and become involved in all that was available in excess and surplus lines,” she said. “I had many avenues to compare, which has further increased the value of my experiences.”

Adams says that the best moments of her internships were those that reconfirmed her desire to become a part of the risk management and insurance industry.

“I would consider a ‘best moment’ a time when I realized I was on the right path and that this is the career I want,” she explained.”Fortunately, I have had many of these moments. Some were at Lloyds of London during negotiation meetings with underwriters; some were this summer in California in meetings discussing environmental or entertainment insurance. I really cherish all of the ‘green lights’ that I have had to let me know I am going in the right direction.”

Cox says that while Adams’ incredible internship opportunities put her far ahead of many other students in the job market, her ability to lead a balanced life makes her even more impressive.

“I do not believe that I have ever seen a student who can juggle so many tasks and do them so well,” Cox said.

Along with carrying out her duties as president of the student chapter of the Risk Management and Insurance Society, Adams serves on the board of directors of The Children’s Project, a global aid organization that provides residential living and education to destitute children (http://www.helpthemtoday.org).