Sentry donates $250K to UW-Stevens Point to honor Ruth E. Salzmann
The Ruth E. Salzmann Center for Women’s Leadership will be based in the Sentry School of Business and Economics at UW-Stevens Point.
STEVENS POINT – The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Sentry announced Oct. 1 the Ruth E. Salzmann Center for Women’s Leadership based in the Sentry School of Business and Economics.
The naming of the center in honor of the company’s first woman executive vice president and a $250,000 donation from the company were announced by representatives from the university and insurance company at Sentry’s Stevens Point headquarters.
“The center is a beacon for students and emerging leaders who will now have the chance to learn about and apply the timeless lessons and values of Ruth’s legacy to shape and inform their individual paths to leadership,” Pratima Gandhi, UW-Stevens Point interim chancellor, said in a news release. “The university is grateful for this $250,000 gift from Sentry to name the center in Ruth’s honor and empower all students.”
Salzmann earned the role of vice president and board member and the first woman president of the international Casualty Actuarial Society more than 60 years ago, according to the release. The naming of the women’s leadership center at UW-Stevens Point is intended to continue her legacy, inspire future women leaders and serve as a powerful example.
The center will welcome all students and community members interested in learning from the achievements of women leaders, according to the release. The center offers leadership and professional development, education, networking and mentorship, and collaborative initiatives that bridge campus and community.
“Ruth wasn’t focused on being ‘the first,’ she was focused on getting it right,” Pete McPartland, Sentry chairman and CEO, said in the release. “Ruth, with her analytical mind, quick wit, and professionalism, moved our industry forward. Her values and influence continue to shape insurance and now it will be felt in the broader business world.”
McPartland met Salzmann after joining Sentry in 2010, which initiated years of friendship and a series of conversations, according to the release.
“She brought Sentry’s past to life,” he said. “Through our discussions, I came to understand not just what she accomplished, but who she was. Ruth’s insight and perspective shaped how I lead today.”
Salzmann had an impact on the insurance industry nationwide after her paper “Rating by Layer of Insurance” popularized what became known as Salzmann Curves. The concept has been used in the insurance industry “to evaluate exposure ratings, guided property insurance pricing for more than 40 years,” according to the release. Her paper is broadly read by actuarial science students and she also developed statutory loss reserve schedules.
“Ruth was respected for her high ethical standards, and she would be pleased to know that her career and life have influenced and inspired others and will continue to do so for years to come,” Stephanie Smith, Sentry Insurance Foundation president, said in the release. “In addition to the center bearing her name, we look forward to celebrating the Ruth E. Salzmann Center for Women’s Leadership when Sentry Hall opens in 2029.”
Besides her work as an actuary, Salzmann was also a published author, consultant, and expert witness on insurance matters, according to the release. She was named a distinguished alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business in 1984 and received recognition by “Business Insurance” magazine as one of the 100 Leading Women in 2000. She was also a musician and athlete, playing cornet with the Madison Symphony Orchestra and ranking second among Wisconsin women’s tennis players in 1950.
“With programming initiatives already underway, the Ruth E. Salzmann Center for Women’s Leadership will serve as a cornerstone of growth and empowerment at UWSP,” Leah Bertrand, Sentry School student in the Master of Business Administration program and center intern, said in the release. “Ruth E. Salzmann’s legacy as a woman trailblazer in her role as the first female actuary at Sentry inspires the work I am proud to be part of.”
UWSP’s Sentry School of Business and Economics was named in 2022 following a large donation from the university’s longtime partner, according to the release. The school “creates career ready graduates and leaders by providing professional development experiences, access to employers and in-demand skills,” according to the release. The school also connects students with dozens of employer partners in the United States for internship experience.
Majors offered by the school include include accounting, business administration, business economics, data analytics, finance, management and marketing and an MBA in applied leadership and decision-making. The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is an honor earned by only 5% of the world’s business colleges, according to the release.
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at [email protected].
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