IABA Seeks Mentors and Members

The International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA) invites African-American actuarial professionals with Fellow or Associate designations to become mentors to high school, college, and employed actuarial students pursuing an actuarial career. Non-designated actuarial professionals with more than seven years of experience in the field are also invited to mentor. The IABA encourages participation of African American actuaries in the activities of the professional actuarial organizations, supports minority-owned insurance companies and consulting firms, and provides scholarships to minority students. Jeffrey L. Johnson, FSA, 1998 IABA President and an actuary with Allstate Insurance Company, invites all African-American actuarial professionals to become part of this organization as it grows and moves into the 21st century.

Linda A. Shepherd, 1997 IABA President and Vice President and Actuary with Prudential Property & Casualty Insurance Company, began the IABA Mentoring Program in March 1997 under her presidency. Its purpose is to reach out and assist African-American actuarial students in achieving their exam and career goals.

The IABA Mentoring Program encourages African-American high school and college students to pursue an actuarial career and provides mentors and role models for actuarial students. Under the program, each mentor is assigned a student based on career track and interest. For example, life actuaries are placed with life students and so on. Mentors and students communicate at least once a month to discuss the student’s development. While the program is set up for one-to-one mentoring, the student does have access to any mentor available (in some cases mentors assist several students). The IABA Mentoring Committee closely monitors the program to ensure that it is working effectively.

The mentoring program now has more than sixty participants and is continually growing. Those interested in becoming an IABA mentor or interested in being mentored should contact Patricia R. Powell, Mentoring Chairperson at (302) 475-7142 or write to:

IABA Mentoring Program
P.O. Box 7322
Wilmington, Delaware 19803-0322

The IABA is also seeking the support of companies interested in sponsoring memberships. Anyone interested in becoming a member should contact Linda A. Shepherd, IABA Membership Chairperson at (732) 946-5538 for more information.