Marlett Named IIANC Distinguished Professor at Appalachian

BOONE, N.C., July 3 -- Appalachian State University issued the following news release:

Dr. David C. Marlett has received the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC) Distinguished Professorship in the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University.

Marlett, chairman of the college's Department of Finance, Banking & Insurance, is the first person to receive the honor. The $500,000 endowed professorship was created by contributions from the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC).

"The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina congratulates Dr. Marlett upon his recent appointment as the IIANC's Distinguished Professor for the Risk Management and Insurance program at Appalachian State University," said Kelley L. Erstine, IIANC chief executive officer. "Dr. Marlett has been an integral part over the years in seeing this program become the sixth largest of its kind in the nation. Our proud support and long standing relationship with the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center is continually strengthened by their students, faculty and administration."

Other contributors to the professorship were Moore & Johnson Insurance Agency, BB&T Insurance Services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the N.C. Surplus Lines Association, and a 50 percent match by the UNC System Distinguished Professors Fund.

The professorship includes a salary stipend to enable the recipient to further advance their work, including research and presentations at conferences, and supports travel, equipment purchases, and membership fees for professional organizations. The distinguished professorship is a three-year appointment.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for the members of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina and admire the service they provide to their community," Marlett said. "I am honored by this appointment being associated with their organization. I also greatly appreciate the support from Dean Edwards and my colleagues in the Walker College of Business."

Marlett joined the faculty at Appalachian in 2003. He also has served as director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center in the Walker College of Business. He has taught risk management and insurance courses at Nanjing University, Old Dominion University and Florida State University.

After working as a commercial lines underwriter for United States Fidelity and Guaranty in Tampa, he entered the doctoral program at Florida State University in 1993. His major area of study was risk management and insurance, with a support area in finance. Marlett completed his doctoral dissertation on residual markets and catastrophe financing programs in 1997.

Marlett is currently the editor for the CPCU eJournal. He has published more than 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

"The significant contribution from IIANC recognizes the high esteem in which the organization holds Appalachian's program," said Dr. Randy Edwards, dean of the Walker College of Business. "In addition to helping us secure funding for this professorship, contributions from IIANC helped establish the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center and IIANC continues to be a strong contributor to the center, which supports faculty, staff and students involved with the college's Risk Management and Insurance major."

Appalachian's Risk Management and Insurance Program is the sixth largest in the country. The program has 135 majors, and has produced more than 850 graduates. For more information about the program, visit http://insurance.appstate.edu.

The college's Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, founded in 1988, with support from the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, supports research and faculty development, assists the insurance industry in the design and delivery of training and continuing education programs, and facilitates interaction between students and faculty the professionals in the insurance industry. For more information about the center, visit http://insurance.appstate.edu.

TNS-AD120704-JF78-3940051 StaffFurigay