ASU Thunderbird journey inspires online graduate to work, live abroad

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2023 graduates.

Joseph Kemp, an alumnus of Scottsdale Community College, was awarded the All AZ-Academic Team scholarship for his outstanding academic achievements. The scholarship allowed Kemp to pursue his academic aspirations at an Arizona university of his choice and covered 60 of his undergraduate credits.

After much consideration, Kemp chose to enroll in the Bachelor of Global Management online program at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. He said Thunderbird's mission to empower and influence global leaders and managers who can leverage the advantages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as the overall school environment, attracted him to Thunderbird. 

"I have had the pleasure of working with classmates from different walks of life and cultural backgrounds, thanks to the (ASU Online) school environment. I even had an amazing experience interning for an accounting firm in Dublin, Ireland, which I did for my global virtual internship requirement," he explained.

Kemp describes his experiences at Thunderbird as incredibly satisfying and said he's thankful for his fellow T-bird colleagues throughout his courses and in-person events. 

"As an online student, I found virtual office hours critical to my success because they allowed me to interact with my professors and my peers, collaborate and get my questions answered," he said.

After graduation, Kemp hopes to work for an international organization and live abroad, bringing his knowledge and expertise to benefit society globally.

In recognition of his exceptional leadership and selfless dedication to enhancing the experience of his fellow students and bettering Thunderbird, Kemp received the Undergraduate Barton Kyle Yount Award. This award is presented to a student who best represents the values and standards envisioned by the founders of Thunderbird in 1946 and is the school’s highest student honor.

Question: For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

Answer: I feel most grateful to my family and friends who have supported me throughout my life, especially during my time at Thunderbird. They help to continuously encourage me to work hard and never give up when facing an obstacle. I don’t think I could be where I am now without them, so I wish to thank them for everything they’ve done for me.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at Thunderbird?

A: Dr. Mansour Javidan taught me an important lesson about cross-cultural communication in a globalized world. This lesson exposed me to various nuances in how people from different cultures communicate, which I can now recognize and respond to/behave appropriately when interacting with someone from a different culture than my own.

Q: What has your experience at Thunderbird been like?

A: The professors have been truly outstanding and have made my experience at Thunderbird incredibly satisfying. You get the best learning experience by actively participating.