The American University of Paris (AUP) has announced that, effective June 1, 2026, Giles Kemp will assume the role of Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, succeeding Doris Daughney, who has led the Board since 2020.
Daughney, a Toronto native, became Chair at a pivotal moment, just as the Covid-19 pandemic was becoming a challenge for higher education institutions across the world. Daughney brought to the role her experience as a distinguished senior executive in strategic marketing and corporate development. Her leadership credentials span both the public and private sectors in Canada, having served as Chair of the Board of The Vancouver Stock Exchange, Chair and CEO of BC Pavilion Corporation (Pavco), and as a Board Director at Saxon Financial Inc. and RONA Inc. In the nonprofit world, she chaired both The Vancouver Opera Association and The Children’s Arts Umbrella and was awarded Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee Medal for service to Canadian business and community. Daughney currently serves as Vice Chair of The Arts Arena Paris.
AUP President Sonya Stephens expressed deep gratitude for Daughney’s contributions as a trustee since 2012: “Doris has led The American University of Paris’ Board with vision, warmth, and remarkable dedication. Her steady hand through some challenging years has made a lasting mark on this institution.”
Giles Kemp, who has been an AUP trustee since 2015 and has served on the Executive Committee, was a popular choice for the role and is expected to continue Daughney’s progressive approach. Based in Palm Beach, Florida, his service as Chair until 2029 promises to strengthen the University’s transatlantic ties and nourish connections with organizations supporting higher education.
Starting off as an advertising copywriter and college textbook salesman at Random House Publishers in the 1970s, he has never entirely left the realm of publishing and education, despite turning to entrepreneurship as co-founder of Kemp & George, a mail-order catalog selling home furnishing and accessories, and founder of Home Decoration Collection, a company that was sold to The Home Depot in 2006 before Kemp’s retirement.
In addition to his role at AUP, Kemp has served on the Boards of other institutions of higher education including Swarthmore College (from 2003 to 2020 and Emeritus since) and Occidental College (from 2015 to the present). He has also served on the Board Philips Exeter Academy since 2021, and is currently Secretary of the Executive Committee at The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, as well as Chair of the Capital Campaign of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach.
Until 2025 Kemp was also co-sponsor of SEEDS, an educational philanthropy program in Central Vietnam that supports low-income high school and college students.
Kemp holds a BA (Bachelor of Arts) with Honors in Sociology from Swarthmore College and an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Harvard Business School.
“I am honored to serve as Chair,” said Kemp. “The American University of Paris occupies a truly unique space in global higher education, and I look forward to working with President Stephens and our fellow trustees to advance the University’s mission.”
Founded in 1962, The American University of Paris (AUP) is an international institution dedicated to cross-cultural and interdisciplinary teaching and learning. Located in the heart of Paris, AUP provides a liberal arts education that prepares students to engage thoughtfully and responsibly in global communities. The university currently has over 1,200 students enrolled representing 110 nationalities and 56 languages, creating a highly international academic environment. Students choose from over 300 courses taught by 200 faculty members and industry professionals, combining rigorous academic study with practical perspectives.
AUP’s mission is to offer a transformative educational experience that bridges disciplines, cultures, and borders, enabling students to pursue their professional and intellectual goals internationally. Grounded in the American liberal arts values and a global orientation, the university encourages critical inquiry, intercultural dialogue, and intellectual exploration to prepare students for their future and broaden their horizons.
