Insurance Needs with a Changing Environment: Preparing Rhode Island for the Future

Insurance Needs with a Changing Environment: Preparing Rhode Island for the Future

Friday, September 18, 2026

This half-day symposium, Insurance Needs with a Changing Environment: Preparing Rhode Island for the Future, explored how insurance needs in the state of Rhode Island are evolving with the changing environment. The symposium examined the availability and affordability of insurance for communities and businesses facing increasing environmental risks. How can Rhode Island best prepare its communities and businesses to insure property effectively when risks and costs are rapidly increasing? This symposium included expert individual presentations followed by a panel discussion. Recorded remarks are provided by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Samantha Medlock, Founder and Principal, Climate Risk Advisors.

Speakers:

  • Cameron Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, ShoreOne 
  • Garrett Bradford, Principal & GIS Consultant, Milliman 
  • Emily Rogan, Senior Program Officer, United Policyholders
  • Michael Weir, Research Specialist, Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
  • Charlie Sidoti, Executive Director, InnSure 
  • Panel moderator: Thomas Ruppert, Assistant Provost for Coastal Resilience & Director, Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative. 

Please contact the Marine Affairs Institute at marineaffairs@rwu.edu or 401-254-5392 with any questions you may have. 

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.