Annette Ardler, C'01, recognized for service to SPCS Alumni Association board

Annette “Nettie” Ardler, C’01, a 2001 graduate of the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies, was named the 2024 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award winner. 

As award winner, Ardler addressed graduating students during the ceremony. In her speech, Ardler shared that SPCS “will always be home” for her and that “because it is home, that means you will come back.” She knows first hand as she is an avid Spider sports enthusiast and devoted alumna.

“I felt a call of duty to serve as an advocate for SPCS and UR,” Ardler recalled. “That was when I joined our SPCS Alumni Association board.”

She just completed a seven-year stint on the board as its 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.

“During my service with the board, I have had many opportunities,” she shared. “I made great friends. Tested my leadership skills. Learned that I am not perfect. Helped others grow. Celebrated our successes. Learned from our missteps.”

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 recognizes and appreciates the role her UR education has played in her career.

“The experiences I had while I was a student helped me professionally and personally,'“ Arlder said. “I learned a lot about myself in the four years I was a student here.”

Ardler earned her bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies from the School of Professional and Continuing Studies in 2001. Like many of her friends, going to SPCS was a bit of 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,” Arlder shared. “My parents never graduated from college, and no one asked if I was interested in going to school.”

After high school graduation, she went straight to work and found a job as administrative assistant . After working about ten years, Arlder enrolled in a course with a local community college. Then she started working in the insurance industry and her employer was promoting the Certified Property Casualty Underwriter designation. It would take her about four years to completen, and she wasn’t sure I wanted to stick with insurance as a career.

Arlder realize she could finish her bachelor's degree in the same amount to time. Plus, a college degree would help her in any career path.

“I applied to the paralegal program at SPCS and was accepted!” she exclaimed. “I couldn’t believe it! I never thought I would have an opportunity to attend such a prestigious school.”

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.

“I wanted as much of a traditional student experience I could have in a non-traditional environment,” Arlder said. “I tried to take advantage of every opportunity I could. And I’m very happy I did.”