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About CIS

CIS History

The Department of Finance, College of Business and Economics established the Center for Insurance Studies (known as CIS) during the 1997-1998 academic year. CIS started in September 1998 under the direction of Dr. Weili Lu. Operation strategies are being developed with the help of insurance industry professionals.

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CIS Goal

The goal of CIS is to attract and educate talented individuals who are committed to a professional career in insurance or financial services. These areas include property, life, benefits, risk management, and health care components. The emphasis will be on careers in actuarial analysis, claims, financial planning, marketing, risk management, portfolio management, sales, technology, and underwriting.

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CIS Vision

The vision of CIS is to take insurance and financial services into the new millennium. CIS aspires to bring to focus, to traditional as well as non-traditional students from a variety of backgrounds, the benefits and potential that a career in insurance-financial services has to offer. Our vision is to work closely with the business community, so our students can get a greater understanding of the technology, communication, interpersonal skills, and sound business practices that will allow them to succeed in a rapidly growing and changing insurance industry.

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CIS Director

Dr. Weili Lu Dr. Weili Lu joined the CSUF faculty in 1996, and became Director of the Center for Insurance Studies in 1998.She received her B.A. in Economics and M.A. in International Business from Nankai University in China .  She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Finance and Insurance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was the first woman from Mainland China to receive a Ph.D. in Insurance.  Dr. Lu teaches major insurance courses in the CBE Finance program.  Her research interests include insurance, pension, and employee benefits.  Her industry experience includes serving as a financial planning consultant and as manager of large insurance and pension consulting projects.  Dr. Lu has extensive contacts with members of the insurance/financial services industry and government officials both in China and the United States . She has raised significant funds for the Center for Insurance Studies and developed Actuary program, Insurance and Financial Services program and Insurance Marketing Entrepreneur Program.

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CIS Benefits

CIS provides not only direct classroom involvement for its members, but also internships, scholarships, and excellent job opportunities for undergraduates and graduates. CIS regularly hosts regional symposiums, as well as domestic and international conferences, for insurance professionals and consumers. In order to update their insurance knowledge and establish our members' exposure to the community, CIS organizes training programs for domestic and international insurance executives and regulators. There are both short and long term training programs. The speakers include reputable insurance experts, scholars, senior executives and chief regulators. CIS conducts research-oriented services including domestic and international insurance markets, joint ventures, and actuarial analysis.

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