The UCF College of Business has landed Gabriel Carrillo — a seasoned industry professional — as instructor and program director for the Center for Risk Management and Insurance Education.

Carrillo comes to UCF after having spent 30 years in the insurance industry and building a mulitfaceted portfolio in property and casualty insurance, with experience spanning into underwriting, actuarial work, research, product development and product management. Before joining UCF, he served as the executive director of the Risk Management and Insurance Center at Florida State University (FSU).

“Gabriel’s appointment is a strategic step forward for the Center,” UCF College of Business Dean Paul Jarley says. “His experience will help us deepen our engagement with industry leaders and better prepare students to meet the growing talent needs of the risk management and insurance sector.”

The UCF Center for Risk Management and Insurance Education, co-located on UCF’s main campus in Orlando and at the UCF Connect Daytona Beach Center, will equip students and professionals for the evolving insurance industry by offering a range of academic programs supported by expert faculty and industry leaders from various specialties.

These programs stand to highlight the importance of UCF’s industry partners and boost prospective job growth in Central Florida and beyond, potentially attracting more attention to students who may be interested in risk management and insurance — or in UCF’s campus.

“We have the ambition to create a nationally recognized program in risk management and insurance education,” says Ron Piccolo, associate dean for strategic initiatives, “Given his industry experience, academic credentials and leadership of FSU’s great RMI Center, Gabriel is the perfect leader to create exciting opportunities for our students and industry partners.”

Before coming to UCF, Carrillo worked for notable companies like COUNTRY Financial, Allstate, Travelers and The Hartford. Carrillo has contributed to the field through academic and industry service, including board roles with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services at Illinois State University. He currently serves on the advisory board for Purdue’s Actuarial Science Program.

“I am excited to join a passionate team of academics and industry executives in launching a new, world-class RMI program at UCF,” Carrillo says, “Our goal is to build a much-needed talent pipeline to serve the risk management and insurance industry, with an eye on creating a program that offers a unique value proposition for our students and industry partners.”

Carrillo has a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from Purdue University with a minor in business management. He is expected to earn a doctoral degree in risk management and insurance from FSU in Fall 2025.

“I’ve been blessed with an amazing primary career spanning 30 years; a priceless series of amazing experiences and opportunities,” Carrillo says. “As a perpetual student of the industry, I enjoy building on that every day. What I am passionate about is sharing what I’ve learned to help others succeed.”

For more information on the latest program offerings, visit business.ucf.edu/center-for-risk-management-insurance-education/.