More than 1,820 students attended the annual iDay insurance education and career fair event on Oct. 22, presented by the School of Risk Management and Insurance (SRMI) at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics. The annual event brings together students, alumni, faculty and industry professionals for a day of professional engagement.
This year’s event featured 31 companies and organizations from across the insurance and risk management fields, including excess and surplus (E&S), residential, commercial, health and auto. The direct access to industry professionals for networking and career guidance underscores the college’s commitment to connecting students with career opportunities. More than 2,500 alumni of the business college have obtained lucrative careers in insurance, risk management and related fields.
Preparing Business Titans for the Evolving World of Insurance and Risk Management
“The insurance industry continues to experience strong hiring and offers many exciting career opportunities for students with a diverse range of interests and skills,” says Weili Lu, director of the Department of Finance and SRMI. “We encourage more students to discover and explore this growing field by enrolling in insurance and risk management courses or pursuing an insurance minor.”
The 2025 iDay keynote session featured Gabriela Garcia-Sanchez, associate director of digital communications and news at the Surplus Lines Association of California (SLA), this year’s title sponsor. She was joined by three CSUF alumni from RT Specialty, R.E. Chaix & Associates, and Amwins Insurance Brokerage of California, who shared their career journeys and insights into the E&S sector. The panel highlighted emerging trends such as artificial intelligence in underwriting and the importance of personal branding.
Afternoon alumni panel discussions featured professionals across the underwriting, risk management, product analysis and brokerage fields. Will Sheridan from USLI, the strategic sponsor of iDay, moderated the session. Panelists from Arch Insurance, Disney, Marsh, Mercury Insurance, and Travelers shared their career experiences and discussed artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the evolving risk landscape.
Company representatives offered students individualized career advice and internship opportunities. The event provided a valuable bridge between classroom learning and real-world practice, reinforcing SRMI’s mission to connect education with industry relevance. A number of industry participants, including Lin Lan, CEO of Pacific Pioneer Insurance Group, noted the success of the event and made plans to attend in future years.
“We are grateful to our corporate partners, alumni, and sponsors for their continued support of our students and programs,” says Lu. “Events such as iDay give students a clearer understanding of career possibilities in risk management and insurance while building relationships that last beyond graduation.”
Vincent Musante ’26, president of the on-campus chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, added, “Students gained real-world insight into current industry challenges and innovations. The event provided valuable networking opportunities and helped students connect classroom learning to practical applications in risk management and insurance.”
For More on Insurance Education
The success of iDay 2025 reflects SRMI’s ongoing commitment to experiential learning and industry collaboration and growing insurance student, alumni and corporate partners community. For more on insurance education at Cal State Fullerton, visit SRMI online. Or read more of our articles on insurance.
