Richard Corbett distinguished himself as a leading researcher and professor in risk management and insurance at FSU, receiving wide recognition for his contributions to the field and his impact on statewide and national insurance education and policy.

Countless former students remember him as a mentor, role model and friend for the difference he made in their lives and academic and professional careers. One former student called him an academic “force of nature” who motivated students to reach beyond their potential and achieve their goals.

Corbett built a substantial publication record in the discipline’s top academic journals. He also presented numerous papers at professional conferences, spoke frequently to industry and community groups and worked as a consultant and expert witness in the field.
Corbett also taught at The University of Texas at Austin, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, The University of Iowa and Seattle University.

During his time at FSU, he served as director of business master’s programs for three years and as advisor to RMI Ph.D. students for 14 years.

Corbett retired in 2012 as FSU’s Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company Professor.

His service outside of FSU included 12 years as chair of the City of Tallahassee’s Risk Management Advisory Committee, for which he received two city commendations. He has served as a middle school “Brain Bowl” moderator and volunteered for Cobb Middle School, Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest of the Big Bend, A Full Summer and the American Cancer Society.

His service to the industry included 10 years as a member of the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) Advisory Committee for the Insurance Institute of America, and he’s a past president of the Southern Risk and Insurance Association. For 22 years, he taught “Fundamentals of Insurance” for the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS).  In 1994, he was named Insurance Educator of the Year by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA).

An Atlanta native, Corbett worked in the life-insurance industry and performed for four years with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra before earning MBA and Ph.D. degrees from Georgia State University, which inducted him into its Risk Management Foundation Hall of Fame in 2017.