American Family Insurance endows WomenLead Scholarship for undergraduate leadership development program

American Family Insurance has endowed in perpetuity a scholarship for students in Georgia State University’s WomenLead program. It is the first company-endowed scholarship for the undergraduate leadership development course.

“The American Family Insurance WomenLead Scholarship will benefit generations of Georgia State students, helping them gain the skills, experience and networking opportunities needed for a seat at the table,” said Nancy Mansfield, professor of legal studies and director of the WomenLead program. “We are enormously grateful to American Family for its generosity and commitment to developing future leaders.”

WomenLead began as a pilot program with 26 students in spring 2015 to equip female students to excel in school, enter the workforce with developed skills and find their place in leadership positions. As of spring 2020, 840 students across the university have taken the semester-long course, offered as WomenLead in Business, WomenLead in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, WomenLead in Policy and Politics, and WomenLead in Science. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business named it an “innovation that inspires” in 2018.

The American Family Insurance WomenLead Scholarship is a merit and financial need based scholarship that will be awarded each semester to a student enrolled in WomenLead. The first scholarship will be awarded in fall 2020.

American Family’s partnerships with universities include internships, scholarships, and apprenticeships. The company’s goal is not just to recruit top talent, but also to provide meaningful impact through community investment and engagement.

“We are proud to offer WomenLead’s first company-endowed scholarship and to support future female business leaders through this empowering program,” said Steve Amundson, American Family senior manager, strategic partnerships. “We seek out partnerships with schools like Georgia State in our operating states for their high-caliber curriculum, quality degree programs that align with positions in our enterprise, diverse student body and strong alumni base.”

Photo caption: WomenLead students showcase their leadership strategy and plans for the future during a poster presentation.

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About the American Family Insurance Group
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 254 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance (formerly Ameriprise Auto & Home), The General, Homesite and Main Street America. Across these companies the group has more than 13,500 employees nationwide.