Donor Spotlights

George Kemp

George Kemp was among the relatively small number of experienced college teachers recruited by Chancellor Donald Shipp in the early years of the University’s development.  He was brought to LSUS as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychology in 1970.  With Chancellor Shipp’s encouragement and support he organized and served as Chairman of the University’s Council of Department Chairpersons in its formative first two years, beginning in 1973.

Kemp served as Chairman of the Faculty Committee which organized the first Academic Honors Convocation at which outstanding students are honored by the University for their academic achievement.  He was among those appointed by Chancellor Shipp to the LSUS Graduate Council when LSUS was approved to offer graduate degrees by the LSU Board of Supervisors.  At its first meeting he was elected to serve as Chairman of the Graduate Council.  He researched and wrote the Constitution and ByLaws under which the Graduate School continues to function to this day.

He led the Department of Psychology in developing the Specialist in School Psychology Program.  Kemp also helped established the LSUS chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Kemp and his wife Rita presented LSUS with the University Chime System as a tribute to his mother, Grace Hudgins Kemp, in 1980.  Eventually, Kemp was appointed as Director of the Campus Beautification Project by Chancellor John Darling.  He and his children established and have contributed annually to the Rita Gilbert Kemp Campus Beauty and Charm Maintenance Endowment.  The endowment is designed to provide funding for the use of the Director of Campus Grounds in replacing trees and shrubs as may be required, and for the repair and/or replacement of the University Chime System as it may be needed.

After his retirement, Kemp took the lead in establishing the Alpha Guarde, an organization whose membership is made up of retired professors, staff, administrators, or those who have served the University 24 years or longer.  The purpose of the organization is to support the Chancellor in sustaining the principles upon which the University was established.