Contact: jabraham@ue.org
Janice Menke Abraham is responsible for leading the strategic direction of United Educators (UE) and the execution of its operational plans.
She joined UE as President and CEO in 1998. During her tenure, UE has become known as the premier risk management and liability insurance company serving educational institutions. About 1,600 K-12 schools, colleges, and universities rely on UE’s education-specific expertise. UE has been consistently profitable, producing high return on equity and maintaining the financial strength and stability to earn an AM Best Rating “A” (Excellent) every year since 1998.
Prior to joining UE, Janice served the higher education community as Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer at Whitman College, in various senior positions at Cornell University, and as a staff associate at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Janice also worked as an international banker for J.P. Morgan.
Janice is on the board of directors of UE and United Educators Management Company. She is also a trustee at American University and Chair of The Campagna Center, a nonprofit organization serving children and families in Virginia.
In addition, she serves on The Institutes’ board of directors, American University’s School of International Service Dean’s Advisory Council, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges’ (AGB’s) editorial board, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association’s Executive and Finance/Investment committees. From 2009 to 2010, she was the first woman chair of the board of governors of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Janice is a former President of the Western Association of College and University Business Officers, trustee emerita at Whitman College, and a past board member of NACUBO and the National Risk Retention Association.
She earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in international service from American University.
She also wrote Risk Management: An Accountability Guide for University and College Trustees, published by AGB, which encourages board oversight of enterprise risk management activities at their institution. The book’s second edition was published in 2020.
Honors for Janice’s contributions to insurance and education include:
- Griffith Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012
- One of the Power 50, Captive Review, 2012
- A “Woman in Insurance Leadership,” Insurance Networking News, 2011
- A Rising Star, Reactions, 2011
- A “Woman to Watch” as a Leader of Change, Business Insurance, 2006
- Professional Development Award, NACUBO, 2005
- Great Alumni Award, Mount Lebanon High School, 2005
- Insurance Woman of the Year, The Association of Professional Insurance Women, 2004
- One of the 100 Leading Women in the Field of Insurance, Business Insurance, 2004
In 2011, during a sabbatical leave, Janice worked with LeapFrog Investments, a micro-insurance private equity fund focused on developing and launching microinsurance products in emerging markets. She has testified before Congress and the Department of the Treasury on insurance issues and writes and speaks frequently on strategic issues affecting educational institutions and the insurance industry.
Janice lives in Alexandria, Va., with her husband and two rescue dogs. She enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, and knitting.
