Industry Executive Appointed to Faculty at the American College

BRYN MAWR, Pa., June 27 -- American College issued the following news release:

The American College, the nation's leading financial services educator, today named Michael C. Davidson, CLU(R), as its new Adjunct Professor of Agency Excellence.

Davidson is a highly regarded and seasoned industry leader, having retired as Vice Chairman of the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Chief Agency and Marketing Officer at State Farm(R) in January of this year.

"Mike is the ideal person to help educate the next generation of financial services industry professionals," notes Dr. Larry Barton, CAP(R), President and CEO of The American College. "Mike helped transform State Farm into one of the world's most respected and integrated financial stewards, bridging life insurance, property and casualty products, banking, mutual funds and many specialty products."

"He is respected by agents and home office leaders, regulators and consumer advocates," he added.

In his new role, Davidson will teach students working to complete their Chartered Leadership Fellow(R) (CLF(R)) professional designations and their Master of Science in Management (MSM) with an Emphasis in Leadership degrees. He will be assigned to the Northwestern Mutual O. Alfred Granum Center for Financial Security at The American College and will focus on teaching courses related to practice management and agency excellence.

Named for legendary Northwestern Mutual agent, O. Alfred Granum, CLU(R), the Center serves as a tribute to Granum's passion for lifelong learning and the pursuit of excellence in financial products and services.

Davidson has more than 34 years of financial services and leadership experience. He joined State Farm in 1978 as an Agent in Richmond, MO. Three years later, he was named the Agency Manager for the Kansas City, MO. office. Over the next decade, he continued moving up in the State Farm(R) organization in a variety of capacities including Agency Director, Executive Assistant - Agency, and Deputy Regional Vice President. In 1994, he returned to corporate headquarters as Vice President - Agency.

From 1998 - 2003, Davidson continued his upward climb as a Regional Vice President, a Senior Vice President and a member of the Chairman's Council. The culmination of his career began in 2005 when he was named Vice Chairman and the Chief Agency and Marketing Officer.

Davidson served as a member of the St. Jude Board of Directors - Midwest Affiliate. He was also the Chair of The American College Board of Trustees from 2010 - 11. In addition, Davidson is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Life Insurance Council.

A Missouri native, Davidson received his bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University. He earned the prestigious, Chartered Life Underwriter(R), (CLU(R)) designation, widely regarded as the highest standard of knowledge and trust in insurance, from The American College in 1993.

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