American Academy of Actuaries Recognizes 2024 Outstanding Volunteers and Rising Actuaries

WASHINGTON-The American Academy of Actuaries recognized outstanding Academy volunteers and emerging actuarial leaders at the opening session of the Academy's 2024 "Envision Tomorrow" annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15.

Four Academy members were recognized with the Academy's 2024 Outstanding Volunteerism Awards for exceptional volunteer contributions to Academy work during the past year, and nine members were lauded with 2024 Rising Actuary Awards, which recognize emerging actuarial leaders 35 years old and younger or credentialed five years or less. Academy President Lisa Slotznick, MAAA, FCAS, presented the awards recognizing:

2024 American Academy of Actuaries Outstanding Volunteerism Award Recipients

• Rhonda K. Ahrens, MAAA, FSA, for exceptional leadership in the development of knowledge statements that outline the knowledge necessary for life actuaries signing certain statements of actuarial opinion.
• Nancy Behrens, MAAA, FSA, for exceptional leadership in the development of vital frameworks and materials for future new Academy members, including materials for the Academy's Competency Framework and new Academy membership requirements that will become effective in 2026.
• Michelle Iarkowski, MAAA, FCAS, for outstanding dedication reflected through multiple volunteer roles, including as vice chairperson of the Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting, a committee member with the Actuarial Standards Board, and a continuing faculty member for the P/C Loss Reserve Opinions Seminar.
• Rebecca Sheppard, MAAA, FSA, for extraordinary leadership as co-chairperson of the Health Equity Committee, including the development of timely, impactful workshops and symposia, joint leadership on benefits design issues, and representation promoting the Academy's work in external forums.

2024 American Academy of Actuaries Rising Actuary Awards Recipients

• Emma Casehart, MAAA, FCAS, Allstate Insurance Co.
• Joe Dorocak, MAAA, ASA, Mount Sinai Health System
• Tina Kang, MAAA, ASA, Prudential
• Kirsten Knutson, MAAA, ASA, Blue Cross of Idaho
• Christopher Lombardi, MAAA, FSA, WTW
• Margo MacKenzie, MAAA, ACAS, Ernst & Young
• Isabelle McCullough, MAAA, ACAS, Axis US Specialty Services
• Amanda Muhlbaier, MAAA, FSA, Pacific Life Insurance Co.
• Siyu (Silver) Zhou, MAAA, ASA, Venerable

Rising Actuary Award recipients will be featured in the November/December 2024 issue of Contingencies magazine.

Learn more at actuary.org/awards.

[Media only: Photos of the award recipients are available by contacting Academy Director of Communications and Public Affairs David Mendes at [email protected].]

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The American Academy of Actuaries is a 20,000-member professional association whose mission is to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession. For more than 50 years, the Academy has assisted public policymakers on all levels by providing leadership, objective expertise, and actuarial advice on risk and financial security issues. The Academy also sets qualification, practice, and professionalism standards for actuaries in the United States.