Annette Ardler, C'01, Alumni Commencement Speaker

Annette Ardler, C’01, a 2001 graduate of the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies, was nominated by members of the SPCS Alumni Association board of directors to receive the Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award at SPCS 2024 Commencement Exercises on May 11, 2024. 

As award winner, Ardler addressed graduating students during the ceremony. In her speech, reproduced below, Ardler shared that SPCS “will always be home for me” and that “because it is home, that means you will come back.” She identified many opportunities to return to SPCS for activities and events.

Video Address

Starts with Sabrina Guerin’s introduction of Ardler as Gibb Family award recipient.

Commencement Address

Twenty-three years ago, I had the honor of standing at this very podium to address the Class of 2001 as their student commencement speaker. Today, I have the privilege of welcoming the Class of 2024 as the newest members of our alumni association.

(By the way… they gave me a standing ovation after my speech. But no pressure!)

Like some of my friends, coming to SPCS was a bit of a journey. In high school, I wasn’t very studious. I was more interested in twirling a rifle in the marching band and kissing cute boys. My parents never graduated from college, and no one asked if I was interested in going to school. After graduation, I started working in an office as a secretary. Fast forward about ten years, and I enrolled in a course with the local community college.

Then I started working in the insurance industry and my employer was promoting the Certified Property Casualty Underwriter designation. It would take about four years to complete. I wasn’t sure I wanted to stick with insurance as a career and knew in the same amount of time, I could finish my bachelor's degree. A college degree would help me in any career path. I applied to the paralegal program at SPCS and was accepted. I couldn’t believe it! I never thought I would have an opportunity to attend such a prestigious school.

Like many of you, I dove right in! Juggling working full-time, family, friends, community service and classes. I wanted as much of a traditional student experience I could have in a non-traditional environment. I joined the Student Government Association and worked as an advocate for our students and the school. I was tapped for the Golden Key National Honor Society and served as Vice President of Programming. I tried to take advantage of every opportunity I could. And I’m very happy I did.

Seven years ago, I felt a call of duty to serve as an advocate for SPCS and UR. That was when I joined our SPCS Alumni Association board. During my service with the board, I have had many opportunities. I made great friends. Tested my leadership skills. Learned that I am not perfect. Helped others grow. Celebrated our successes. Learned from our missteps.

Thank you to the alumni I served with on the board. You made the experience richer than I could have imagined. Especially, Margaret Dalton, Duan Hobbs, Deon Price, Sabrina Guerin, and Tavoris Marks who I suspect is the president and founding member of my fan club! And to my best friend and fellow classmate, Darnella Hickman, thank you for letting me drag you to all the alumni events. Special thank you to James Campbell, Daniel Hocutt, Kay Robertson, and Dean Wilson for your support in my service.

SPCS and the University hold a very special place in my heart. As a student, this campus always felt like a second home. A place where I felt I belonged. The experiences I had while I was a student helped me professionally and personally. I learned a lot about myself in the four years I was a student here. That is an experience I will always cherish. This will always be home for me. As it is for each of you.

And because it is home, that means you will come back. This is what I want for you:

• I want to see you at the Red Zone Tailgate event at Homecoming sponsored by our alumni association. Save the date for Saturday, November 2nd!
• I want to see you at a women’s basketball game at the Robins Center.
• I want to see you grabbing a snack at D-hall.
• I want to see you picking up some Spider swag at the bookstore.
• I want to see you attending an event at the Modlin Center.
• I want to see you in a yoga class at the Weinstein Center.
• I want to see you on the course for the 2025 Spider Dash 5K (we’re putting an alumni team together).
• I want to see you checking out books at the library, not because you have to but because you want to.
• I want to see you use your alumni discount for a class in the Think Again catalog.
• I want to see you on campus passing out snack bags to SPCS students in honor of Student Appreciation Week.
• I want to see you updating your resume and checking out opportunities with one of our counselors at SPCS Career Services.
• I want to see you at our brewery event next spring in honor of UR Here, supporting SPCS and our students.
• I want to see you paying it forward by mentoring others in your academic program.
• And next year I want to see you at the Dean’s Reception while attending your first Reunion Weekend.

Why do I want all these things for you? Because this will always be home for all of us. Home is where we are centered. Where we find support. Where we lift those who need it. Where we celebrate our successes. Know that you are always welcome back home.

At athletic events, we say “We Are!... UR!” I want you to know that at SPCS you are always home.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024. I’ll see you at the next alumni event.

Biographical Sketch

Annette “Nettie” Ardler is a vice president and senior underwriter in the US Agents team at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions where she underwrites Errors and Omissions (E&O) business in the Alliance Program, focusing on the needs of networks and aggregators. In addition to her underwriting duties, Ardler is the Risk Management Expert and oversees loss control and risk management for the US Agents program. She works closely with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA) both nationally and with the individual state IIABA associations to develop, implement and promote ongoing risk management efforts for independent insurance agents.

Prior to joining Swiss Re in October 2015, Ardler was the E&O Administrator for the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia. She also taught classes in risk management, ethics, and Virginia laws and regulations for IIABA. Her career in underwriting professional liability insurance began in 1989, and she has experience with medical malpractice, legal malpractice, insurance agents E&O and miscellaneous professionals E&O. Ardler also spent four years as a regulatory compliance specialist monitoring legislative activity in several states for impact on a local surplus lines company's business units.

Ardler earned her bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies from the School of Professional and Continuing Studies in 2001. While a student, she was actively engaged in the Student Government Association and served as its president for three years. She was also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, serving as vice president of programming. During her senior year, Ardler won the Jean H. Proffitt Student Service Award and was named the Student Commencement Speaker.

Ardler joined the SPCS Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2017. She is currently the immediate past-president and has held the roles of Governance Committee chair, vice president and president. During her time on the board, she has been instrumental in shifting the Alumni Association’s primary focus to alumni and student support and creating its current committee structure. Ardler also helped rewrite the Association’s current bylaws and was a key contributor to developing the association’s virtual engagement strategy during the COVID pandemic.

Ardler has also earned the Certified Professional Insurance Woman (CPIW), Diversified Advanced Education (DAE) and Associate in Insurance Account Management (AIAM) designations.