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NEW OVERSEERS:
Mike Connelly B.A. ’93/ J.D. ’96: A Non-Traditional Path to Success
B Y R ACHEL W I S E
Michael Connelly is a double Hatter who received
a B.A. from Stetson University in 1993 and a
J.D. from the Stetson University College of Law
in 1996. He also received his M.B.A. from the
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 2008. He served
on the Stetson University College of Arts & Sciences Board of
Advisors in DeLand from 2008 to 2015. Now, he has joined the
College of Law Board of Overseers.
While at the College of Law, Connelly co-founded the Stetson
Law Forum and the Association for Law and Technology. He
also received the Dean’s Award for outstanding contributions to
the university. In 2009, Connelly was nominated to Leadership
Stetson.
“I really enjoyed my time as a student at Stetson because it was a
nurturing environment, including lifelong relationships with
outstanding professors. Stetson is a university where you didn’t
feel like you were lost in the crowd,” Connelly said.
After graduating, Connelly continued on a non-traditional legal
career path by joining the growing telecom and media industries.
As counsel at Tellabs, Inc., he oversaw one of the largest mergers
B Y R ACHEL W I S E
New Stetson University College of Law Board of
Overseer, member Stacy Kemp followed her dream
of becoming an attorney after working as a court
reporter and being inspired by the courtroom. She
grew up in Pasco County and attended River Ridge High School.
Staying true to her central Florida roots, Kemp graduated from
Saint Leo University in San Antonio, Florida, with a bachelor’s
degree in criminal justice before coming to Stetson University
College of Law in Gulfport, Florida.
In 2007, Kemp partnered with a classmate to start their own
firm after graduation: Kemp & Ruge Law Group. Since then, the
firm has expanded into the Kemp, Ruge, & Green Law Group
where Kemp serves as managing partner/owner. The firm has 20
attorneys who specialize in personal injury, family law, criminal
law, bankruptcy law, and wills and estates.
The law group has received many honors and accolades in its
tenure including the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce “Small
Business of the Year” award and the Law Firm 500.
P RO F I L E S
in 1998. Then, in 2000, Connelly started
his own company, Seneca Central. In the
mid-2000s, Connelly worked as a business
development director at AOL TimeWarner.
Most recently, Connelly served as a vice
president at Comcast. In this position, he
invented the XfinityWiFi neighborhood
hotspot network, which now includes more
than 18 million neighborhood hotspots. He
also headed Comcast’s product and technology teams as part of
their joint venture with Verizon Wireless, Time Warner Cable,
and Bright House Networks.
Now as a member of the Stetson University College of Law
Board of Overseers, Connelly hopes to help the school continue
to foster students who want to follow non-traditional paths, like
himself.
“I think it’s important for students to not only look at traditional
legal paths, but to also look at corporate strategy, strategic
development, finance, and other corporate roles where you can
leverage your law degree,” he said.
While at Stetson, Kemp received
the William F. Blews Award for
outstanding pro bono service and
she has continued that dedication
at her firm. Kemp volunteers for,
donates to, and sponsors more than
60 charitable organizations.
“We don’t just write a check. We’re
actually there,” said Kemp
This past year, Kemp was nominated
for the Tampa Bay Business Journal
“Businesswoman of the Year.”
Kemp says her children helped inspire her to be her own boss
and achieve the success she has today. “I am a mother and I
wanted to have the flexibility to work around my children’s
schedule,” she said.
Stacy Kemp J.D. ’07: Be Your Own Boss
Michael Connelly