Building Excellence: The Academic and Athletic Journey of Katie Kemp at FMU

When Plano, Texas, native Katie Kemp arrived at Francis Marion University, she expected volleyball to define her college experience. What she did not expect were the many other opportunities – study abroad, FMU Honors, Model UN, and work in the Writing Center – that would ultimately shape her into the scholar, leader, and future attorney she is today.

A Political Science major with a minor in Environmental Studies and collaterals in Spanish and Economics, Kemp has made her mark both on and off the court. She began playing volleyball when she was eight, and during high school, she was recruited by FMU. She joined the Patriots squad her freshman year, an experience she simply calls “a great opportunity.”

Kemp’s college search originally centered on large universities, but everything changed the moment she visited FMU.

“I decided on FMU first because of volleyball, but once my parents and I visited campus, I knew for sure that it was for me,” she says. “There were so many benefits I got from FMU that I did not even think to consider in the college application process. My parents were a big fan of the small class sizes.”

Despite her independent nature and desire to study far from home, the distance was not always easy. This year, however, her parents made an extraordinary gesture, temporarily relocating to Camden, S.C., so they could attend her final season of volleyball games. “It has been really nice to have them close,” says Kemp.

A summa cum laude graduate, Kemp’s academic journey has been defined by challenging and unique hands-on learning experiences.

“I applied for FMU Honors before I was even accepted into the university. I really admired the Honors Center building,” she says. “I took some really cool classes through Honors, like Plants that Change the World. It was so fun. I love nature and will hopefully be able to go into environmental law. Our lab was in the greenhouse. How cool is that?”

FMU Honors also opened doors she never imagined, especially for travel study opportunities, something she encourages every student to experience. Kemp studied abroad twice: first in Burgos, Spain, at the Universidad de Burgos, and later in Germany, at RPTU during a Maymester trip.

“Before FMU, I had never traveled out of the country,” she says. She praises the structure and safety of the programs, and is grateful for the friendships she formed along the way.

Her involvement with Model United Nations also enriched her college experience. She traveled to New York twice – once as a delegate and once as head delegate. Dr. Jennifer Titanski-Hooper, Vice President for Research and Community Services and advisor to the Model UN Program, whom Kemp calls “the heart and soul of Model UN,” had an enormous impact on her and became a key role model and advisor.

“The Model UN experience was fully immersive,” says Kemp. “You do a lot of prep work researching your topics, and our professors were so helpful. You meet with people, advocate for your country, and make legislation. It is really nice for students who feel like they want to make a difference in this realm to have the opportunity to do this work in college.”

In addition to FMU Honors, studying abroad, and Model UN, Kemp also had the opportunity to conduct research along with one of her political science professors, Dr. Kyle Morgan. After taking his course, The Right to Privacy, which broadened her understanding of constitutional law in the digital age, she completed a summer research project with him on the same topic.

Kemp speaks fondly of the professors who greatly shaped her time at FMU – Titanski-Hooper, Morgan, Dr. Rebecca Flanagan, and Dr. Jason Doll – each of whom encouraged her to push past limits she did now know she had, strengthening her academically and expanding her worldview.

Another group that Kemp holds dear is her volleyball team. Being so far from home, the women on her team along with her coach became a second family. Her coach, Lauren Baufield, helped shape her into not only a strong athlete, but also a strong person.

Beyond her time in the classroom and on the court, Kemp is also the longest-serving tutor in the Writing Center, a role she says helped her grow her abilities as a writer and learn new things.

Graduating a semester early, Kemp plans to return home to Texas for the spring. She looks forward to soaking up time with her family and staying involved in volleyball through coaching. In the future, she plans to attend law school, hopefully in South Carolina, a place she now considers her second home.

As she looks back on her FMU experience – one defined by connection, support, and growth – she reflects on the university that helped her become the strong, confident, and motivated woman she is today.

“Everywhere you look, there is a perk at FMU,” Kemp says. “You are given specialized attention and are held to a higher standard. The faculty care so much. I have been able to dip into so many things academically and athletically all because I made the decision to attend Francis Marion.”