UF Alum, United Nations Intern Shares Advice on Mentorships and Winning Prestigious Awards

July 15, 2024
A small-town student travels the globe and gives back locally.

Just minutes south of Gainesville rests Micanopy, a rural oasis from the bustle of city life, shaded by enormous oak trees. It’s also the hometown of Isabella Kemp, an extraordinary University of Florida alumna and multi-prestigious award winner. Kemp found her passion in this small town: protecting communities from severe storms and climate change through early warning systems. Today, she is following her passion as an intern at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. How did she achieve this with more opportunity in sight? It took asking for help and putting in the work.

Kemp says, "…remember that people want to help you!" Many UF students have clear goals but lack the know-how to act on their ambitions. This is where having a mentor in your corner can take you further than you'd initially think possible. The university has professors and other members of the academic community who want to see students thrive. Kemp didn't collect her extensive list of accolades on her own. She had the support of her mentors – who she took the time to build relationships with. This network was critical to Kemp while applying for the prestigious awards that have taken her across the globe.

Here's what Kemp had to say about her mentors:

I think the mentors I've had have played the biggest role in helping me to achieve academic success. If there's something I want to share with other students, it's to not be afraid to reach out to professors, other students, community members, or really anyone who you think is doing interesting work.

I also use the word mentor in a loose sense to mean anyone willing to listen to you and advise you on your academic journey. I say this because I think some students might be intimidated to find a formal "mentor."

There are many people at UF who have served as mentors to me and helped me along the way.

The Highlights of Isabella Kemp's Accomplishments:

• Won a DAAD Scholarship, which funded study in Germany for two semesters

• UF's Bob Graham Center funded her internship at the Florida State Capitol

• Won the NOAA Hollings Scholarship, allowing her to intern at the National Weather Service in North Carolina and present her work at two conferences

• Won the Bob Graham Center's Reubin Askew Scholarship, which provided funding for her honors thesis and allowed her to present her NOAA work at a third conference

• Attended the Aspen Ideas Climate Conference as a future leader, supported by funding from the Aspen Institute

• Won the German Marshall Fund grant and the UF Center for European Studies grant, which supported study in Brussels and Stockholm, a tour of NATO and the EU, and a meeting with military and security leaders in Sweden

• Won the Boren Award and learned Indonesian in Wisconsin and Indonesia

• Won the UNA-USA Fellowship Initiative, funding her internship at the United Nations in Geneva

• Won another DAAD Scholarship that will fund graduate study in Germany

The extraordinary experiences Kemp has lived are a product of her tenacity. While her mentors provided solid advice, she took the initiative to apply for every scholarship and grant that matched her vision of the future. Kemp poured hours of her time into each application. This means networking with relevant faculty and staff, filling out the applications, writing essays, and meeting additional prerequisites.

Before applying for prestigious awards, it's essential to understand your motivations. Kemp says, “I think listening to what your interests are and reaching out to professors or other members of the community to ask questions about these interests is super important for growth during university and even finding out where your ambitions are.”

Following her passion for protecting communities by developing early warning systems, Kemp applied for the UNA-USA Fellowship Initiative. The scholarship is funding her current internship at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva.

Kemp explains her role at the United Nations:

The UN internship was a chance to work on early warning systems on a global scale. A goal of mine was to see how early warning systems in countries outside of the U.S. serve vulnerable communities. The incorporation of Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and diverse stakeholders like disability groups, youth, and women is still somewhat new to early warning systems. It's one thing to say it's important to incorporate these groups into the early warning system decision-making process; however, it's another thing to put these words into action.

In the end, Micanopy is always on Kemp's mind. She says, "I also believe in the phrase, 'think globally but act locally,' which has been hard to implement during long stretches away from home." Residents of Micanopy will be familiar with the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center. While in Germany, she sent postcards and Haribo gummies to the children at the center. After her time with the National Weather Service, she asked a local forecasting office to give the kids a presentation about their work and possible career paths.

Kemp found her purpose earlier than some and acted on it. She was brave enough to reach out to potential mentors who showed her the way. Putting forth the effort toward many prestigious award applications pushed her potential across the globe, unlocking new avenues to success. Every student at the University of Florida has these opportunities available to them. Getting started is simply a matter of talking to the right people for more information.

If you're a student unsure of their academic path forward, consider scheduling an appointment with Student Success' Transition Advising team. Transition advisors help students find their stride by providing guidance as they build their success plan. They can assist with exploring undergraduate programs, finding a new major, and connecting with campus resources. Talk to your college's advisors for advice specific to a current major. Also, make sure to check out the Student Success Campus Resource Guide. You'll find more information on advising, mentors, tutoring, and additional tools to help you at the University of Florida!

Written by Braden Blue.