Dr. Karen Epermanis is the John and Mary Louise Alford Bickley Chairholder and Teaching Professor in the Economics, Finance and Legal Studies Department at the University of Alabama. Dr. Epermanis joined the faculty in January, 2022 after previously serving over 15 years as Professor of Risk Management & Insurance at Appalachian State University. Dr. Epermanis also served on the faculty of The University of Mississippi and University of Hartford. In addition, she has 13 years of industry experience in the field of risk management.
Prior to entering academe, Dr. Epermanis was Director of Risk Management for SulzerMedica USA, Inc./Sulzer Inc. where she was responsible for the development and coordination of a comprehensive risk management program for diversified operating divisions worldwide. Risks included the manufacture of implantable medical devices and heavy industrial machinery. Dr. Epermanis also served in the risk management departments of Columbia Gas System and The Williams Companies.
Dr. Epermanis is the 2017 recipient of the SGA Outstanding Professor Award (College of Business) and 2012 recipient of the Sywassink Day of Excellence in Service Faculty Award. While at Ole Miss., Dr. Epermanis received the 2004 School of Business Administration Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, and served as faculty advisor to the student Insurance and Risk Management Society. She also received the Shin Research Excellence Award for Insurance Scholarship at the 2001 meeting of the International Insurance Society.
Dr. Epermanis is a past-president of both the Southern and Western Risk and Insurance Associations. She also has served on committees and presented numerous papers at academic conferences including American Risk and Insurance Association, Southern Risk and Insurance Association, Risk Theory Society, Risk Management Research Council, and Western Risk and Insurance Association. Her research has been accepted for publication in journals such as Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking, Journal of Financial Education, Journal of Applied Risk Management and Insurance, Journal of Individual Employment Rights, and Journal of Risk Education.