SIFM Awards 2026 Scholarship to a Student from Saint Joseph’s University

Caldwell NJ — Yelena La Forgia, President of the SIFM and SVP & Chief Financial Officer of Aspen Insurance and Aspen US, presented the SIFM 2026 Scholarship to Rochelle Walker, an actuarial student at Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia).

Above Photo: Saint Joseph’s University Scholarship Winners for 2025, 2026
From Left: Professor John Whitaker of Saint Joseph’s University; Brady King, Rochelle Walker and John Swanick, SIFM Board Member

Ms. Walker has distinguished herself through exceptional academic achievement, resilience and leadership. As president of the African Caribbean Student Association, an active member of Gamma Iota Sigma and the Black Student Union, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy, inclusivity, and community engagement. Her commitment to actuarial science paired with her strong analytical abilities, equipes Rochelle to make a meaningful impact in risk management and the insurance sector.

The SIFM Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship presented to a qualified student attending a top school of risk management, insurance and actuarial science who intends to seek a career in the insurance industry. Ms. La Forgia noted that the “SIFM believes in nurturing the exchange of ideas among professionals in the insurance industry. The SIFM Scholarship affords students the opportunity to meet professionals and executives in insurance, reinsurance and advisory firms specializing in insurance fostering an understanding of the challenges in the industry.”

Ms. Walker is on track to graduate in December 2026 with a major in Actuarial Science from Saint Joseph’s University. Reflecting on her path, Ms. Walker noted that mathematics and business have consistently been her foundation.

Encouraged by family and mentors, she sought a career that blended actuarial thinking and financial theory with real-world impact ultimately discovering actuarial science as the ideal fit. She aspires to use her skills to develop innovative risk models, improve underwriting processes, and promote equitable practices across the insurance landscape.

“My journey, from a student in Jamaica redefining what success looks like to an aspiring actuary at Saint Joseph’s University, has been one of resilience, growth, and purpose,” Ms. Walker said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue pursuing my goals and to contribute to a field that values precision, problem solving, and diversity of thought.”