Karen Kemper

Biography

Dr. Karen Kemper is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Before coming to Clemson, she was the Director of Programs and Development for Bruce Hospital’s Wellness Program in Florence, South Carolina. She also worked with Lexington Medical Center\'s Health Directions program for 27 years as a faculty member of their Fitness Instructor Training program. In 2011, Dr. Kemper co-authored the book, \"If You Have to Wear and Ugly Dress, Learn to Accessorize: Guidance, Inspiration and Hope for Women with Lupus, Scleroderma and Other Autoimmune Illnesses\". While at Clemson, Dr. Kemper has served as the interim Director of the Joseph F. Sullivan Nursing Center, the Graduate Coordinator for the Public Health Sciences PhD program, and the Evaluator for the LiveWell Greenville Afterschool Initiative. Dr. Kemper has worked on numerous research projects including: “Promoting Success of At-Risk African American Youth” funded by the SC Department of Social Services; “ Assessing Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk of College Students of an Historically Black College” funded by the Research Core of NIH EXPORT (Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach, and Research on Disparities in Health and Training); “Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Nutrition in Afterschool Settings” funded by LiveWell Greenville’s Community Transformation Grant, CDC, Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF); and “Promoting Health and Youth Development in Afterschool Settings” Monaview Elementary School Greenville County School District funded by 21st Century Learning Center Grant, US Department of Education. Dr. Kemper also serves as the Vice President of the South Carolina Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation and was a keynote speaker at the Scleroderma Foundation National Patient Education meeting in 2013.

Research Interest

Dr. Kemper's research area addresses obesity prevention, physical activity promotion, and healthy nutrition in youth. She is currently working in afterschool settings to promote and evaluate environmental and policy changes that support healthy eating and physical activity in elementary aged children and their families.