Dr. Roxanne Kemp serves as the Co-Founder and President of Ebed-Melech University, bringing a wealth of experience from her diverse career in education, sales, and technology. She is a proud veteran of the United States Army Signal Corps, where she served as a 31R communications specialist. Dr. Kemp has held several key leadership positions, pioneering online learning as a Director of Online Education, Dean of Online and General Education, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Online Education Officer, School Improvement Coordinator, Campus Director, Professor, and Dissertation Chair. Her extensive expertise in educational leadership and program development has made her a driving force in integrating technology and faith into higher education.
Her vision for Ebed-Melech University is centered on offering technology-enhanced education that fosters a sense of community in the online world, providing relevant learning that leads to industry experience, and ensuring that students are not burdened with debt. Dr. Kemp’s approach emphasizes the development of the whole person, integrating faith into the educational experience to nurture both spiritual growth and career readiness. Motivated to further her education after her military service, Dr. Kemp earned a PhD in Technology from Capitol Technology University, along with a master’s and bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tarleton State University (magna cum laude).
Together with her husband, Kevin Kemp—a cybersecurity expert and professor—Dr. Kemp co-founded Ebed-Melech University. Under their leadership, the university fills gaps in traditional higher education by offering real-world knowledge, workforce preparation, and technological integration, all while fostering a supportive, faith-based learning environment. Dr. Kemp’s goal is to ensure that students at Ebed-Melech University receive a transformative, holistic education that prepares them for meaningful careers without the burden of debt, while nurturing their spiritual and personal development. We sat down with Dr. Kemp to discuss the university’s current initiatives and future vision.
1. Ebed-Melech University is described as a haven for transformative education. Could you elaborate on what sets EMU apart from other institutions in terms of educational philosophy and approach?
Starting with the end in mind, we focus not just on what skills are developed but on who the graduate will impact. We think about how we can prepare them to make a difference today, with an emphasis on the sustainability and reach of the student’s impact. In overseeing numerous programs, I’ve found that many schools are in survival mode—concerned primarily with accreditation requirements, what their competitors are doing, and what’s in demand. Instead, we look at it globally, considering how some countries thrive in education while others do not. We think about how some students graduate and still struggle to find employment, while others are fully equipped to earn and make an impact before they even enter formal education.
We aim to be a leveling place. If a student has the skills and experience, we provide them with the credentials and training to go even further. If they don’t have either, we place them in an incubator and surround them with a team of leaders to help them get to where they need to be.
2. Your career has spanned diverse fields including the military, sales, and higher education. How have these experiences shaped your leadership style and vision for EMU?
My life and journey truly give credence to the scripture that says, “My steps are ordered.” My childhood was similar to my military training in developing work ethic. My great-grandparents, a generation away from slavery, raised me on a farm where we rose with the chickens, worked in the fields, and lived a disciplined life from the age of 5. I became a single parent and sole provider for myself at the age of 18, which prompted me to join the military to provide for my small daughter. From the time I was 13 until my mid-30s, everything I did was for survival. I had no family backing me or supporting me as a young adult, so the discipline instilled in me as a child and in the military drove me to work hard for everything I achieved.
The need to put food on the table pushed me to sell more than everyone else. By the time I reached my early 30s, life became a bit easier, and I began to think more about how to impact other lives. Originally, I thought this would be through counseling, or I even considered starting a ministry. But in what seemed accidental to me—though I now see it as God’s divine plan—I landed in education.
The training I received in the military prepared me for administrative roles, which helped me excel in higher education. My journey, marked by trials and marginalization, fostered deep compassion and empathy for those struggling as I once did. My experiences as an educator and student, not having the resources I needed, pushed me to strive for better ways to educate and make learning real and more accessible.
3. As a State-Trained School Improvement Coordinator, you successfully improved passing rates in K-12 schools. How has this experience influenced your approach to higher education administration at EMU?
Working for an at-risk charter school is where I got my start as a teacher. Initially, I just wanted to teach for one year to get my certification and move on to a better school, but as one would expect, I fell in love with this demographic. I didn’t even want to teach; I wanted to secure a counseling license because that’s how I thought I could make a greater impact. Teaching wasn’t part of the plan at the time—I had just finished my bachelor’s in psychology and was starting my master’s when I learned that if I taught for two years, I could be ready to apply and test to become a school counselor. I never followed through with that plan, as I ended up staying in education.
I fell in love with the students and gave everything I had to them, even teaching them art and theater to show them that they all had a skill. My English students performed so well that they significantly increased the school’s English passing rates, and I didn’t even realize the impact I was making. The next year, the superintendent asked if I could replicate what I did with those students across the whole school. That led me to Texas Education Agency’s school improvement programs, where I learned how to design programs using data, align them with curriculum standards, and consider how students learn and engage with material.
When I transitioned into higher education, I continued applying those same principles and kept learning best practices for improving student outcomes.
4. Cybersecurity is a key focus at Ebed-Melech University, with your co-founder, Kevin Kemp, being an expert in the field. How does EMU ensure that its programs remain at the cutting edge of cybersecurity education?
Without giving away too many trade secrets, we ensure that everything we do is engaging and seamless. Our learning platforms may vary, but they maintain a consistent look and feel across programs. We create learning experiences that require students to make real-world connections and apply their knowledge, rather than just completing busy work. We borrow strategies used in Esports and connect our students globally using platforms familiar to their demographic. Our students can connect to the community hub at any time of day, providing the same social connectedness seen on platforms like Facebook or TikTok.
5. One of your key passions is helping students burdened with loan debt and those stuck at the “all but dissertation” stage. How does EMU provide unique support for these students to help them overcome these challenges?
I was once an ABD student who had taken out every loan possible and still didn’t have a degree. It’s heartbreaking. At EMU, we help students in similar situations and others by offering affordable, low tuition rates, comparable to or even lower than Florida community colleges. We also seek out benefactors to cover the costs for students who need funding so they don’t have to go into debt. Our generous donors play a tremendous role in supporting our students, ensuring they have the financial assistance they need to succeed without being buried in loans.
6. With your expertise in online education, what innovative tools and strategies is EMU utilizing to enhance the online learning experience for students across the globe?
We ensure that everything is engaging, and our platforms are seamless. While our learning platforms may vary, they maintain a consistent look and feel. We create learning experiences that require students to make real-world connections and apply their knowledge, rather than just completing busy work. We borrow strategies used in Esports and connect our students around the world using platforms that are familiar to their demographic. Our students can access a community hub at any time of the day, offering the same level of social connectedness found on platforms like Facebook or TikTok.
7. Diversity and inclusion are core values at EMU. How is the university fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for students from all backgrounds?
All students and all faiths are welcome at EMU. We ensure that both our faculty and students are representative of what the world looks like. We are intentional about creating an environment where everyone feels valued and included, and we strive to reflect the diversity of the global community within our campus.
