Dr. Karen Epermanis joined The University of Mississippi as Assistant Professor of Business Administration in 2001 after previously serving on the faculty of the University of Hartford.  She earned her Ph.D. degree in Finance from the University of South Carolina and also holds a B.B.A. degree from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. from the University of Tulsa.  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, including the negotiation of over $8 million in annual insurance and related expenditures.  Risks included the manufacture of implantable medical devices and heavy industrial machinery.  Prior to joining Sulzer, Dr. Epermanis served in the risk management departments of Columbia Gas System and The Williams Companies.

 Dr. Epermanis received the 2004 School of Business Administration Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.  She also received the Shin Research Excellence Award for Insurance Scholarship at the 2001 meeting of the International Insurance Society.  Dr. Epermanis currently serves as a board member for the Southern Risk and Insurance Association.  She also has served on committees and presented numerous papers at academic conferences including the American Risk and Insurance Association, Southern Risk and Insurance Association, Risk Theory Society, and Risk Management Research Council, and Western Risk and Insurance Association.

Dr. Epermanis serves as Faculty Advisor to the Insurance and Risk Management Society at Ole Miss and she oversees the annual Insurance Careers Day on campus as well as publication of the Insurance Resume Book.