Mount St. Mary’s University was awarded a $17,640 Course Development Grant from Spencer Educational Foundation (Spencer) in April 2026 to support the creation of a remote/asynchronous Risk and Procurement Management Course, BUS 407: Risk and Procurement Management, a requirement for the Project Management certificate.
“We are grateful to Spencer for its investment in our students and in the future of risk management and insurance education. This grant allows us to introduce the Mount’s first undergraduate course in risk management while expanding access to a critical and growing profession,” said Dean of the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business Corinne Farneti, Ph.D., PMP. “By integrating risk and procurement management into our Project Management certificate, we are ensuring that students graduate with practical, industry relevant skills that align directly with workforce needs.”
Grant funding will support the development of the first-ever Risk Management undergraduate course at the Mount and will expose students to the risk management profession. Students will have an entry point to engage with core Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) concepts such as risk identification, assessment, prevention/mitigation, monitoring, and transfer. Funding will also support course development, salary for pilot implementation, guest speakers, marketing materials, and an industry event/student mixer.
“It was a great experience working with Ken Goldstein and Spencer!” added Associate Professor of Business Josey Chacko, Ph.D., who wrote the grant application. “Thanks to their support, we’re able to support our student’s interests in risk management and insurance education. We look forward to building on this collaboration.”
This grant also aligns well with the Mount’s strategic goal of academic excellence to explore and launch academic program expansion in the areas that ensure we remain at the forefront of liberal arts education.
“Spencer is proud to support the Mount as it expands access to risk management and insurance education through innovative, flexible learning,” said Ken Goldstein, Executive Director of Award Programs. “By embedding Risk and Procurement Management into the Project Management certificate, the Mount is preparing students with practical skills that translate directly to today’s risk-aware workplace.”
Since 1979, Spencer has supported thousands of students through scholarships, grants, internships, and industry-supported programming that advance education and illuminate career pathways for students pursuing careers in risk management and insurance. To learn more, visit www.spencered.org.