NewsCounseling
DEA agent alumna to speak on drug awareness
Mar 22, 2007 9:50 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Beth Kempshall (’80), Darlington alumna and one of the highest ranking female DEA agents in the country, will visit Darlington in mid-April. She will meet with faculty, students and parents over a two-day period to talk about drug awareness.
“We live in a society in which drugs are more accessible than ever before. Because of this, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to have Beth Kempshall join us to assist in increasing drug awareness within the Darlington community,” said Chris Allen, Upper School counselor. “Agent Kempshall has been on the frontline in the fight against drugs and will be able to give us all a very realistic view of how drugs are affecting the lives of our children. It is our hope that increased awareness will better equip our parents and faculty to help when students are faced with this issue. More importantly, we hope that our students will be better equipped to make wise decisions.”
On April 16, Kempshall will meet with Middle and Upper School faculty in Dodd Banquet Room from 7 to 8:15 a.m.; Middle School students from 10 to 10:45 a.m.; Upper School students from 11 to 11:45 a.m.; seniors from 11:45 a.m. to noon; and Middle and Upper School parents from 7 to 8 p.m. The following day, she will meet with Lower School students and parents in the Lower School gym from 2 to 2:45 p.m. All meetings will take place in the chapel unless otherwise noted.
"The residents of more rural areas, such as northwest Georgia, are often under the misimpression that drug abuse is predominately confined to the urban and suburban areas of our country. Nothing could be further from the truth," said Kempshall. "Many small communities throughout the U.S. have drug abuse problems equal to, or surpassing, their nearest urban centers. The school community is the central focus in the lives of our children from the age of approximately 6 until they reach young adulthood and start their independent lives. As adolescents, our students are extremely susceptible to peer pressure and group approved attitudes; it is important to counter these often mistaken attitudes."
Kempshall joined the Drug Enforcement Administration following her graduation from Brenau College at the age of 21. In October of 1984, she was assigned to the Las Vegas District Office as an undercover agent in numerous drug investigations for cocaine, heroine and methamphetamine. Four years later, she was promoted and transferred to the Los Angeles Field Division, where she was assigned to the Task Force with the LAPD and, later, to the Organized Crime Drug Task Force (OCDTF).
In 1991, Kempshall was transferred to the DEA International Training Division in Quantico, Va., to serve as an instructor for Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. In this role, she was selected as the DEA’s representative in the development of the first International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest. In 1995, she joined the Miami Field Division, Ft. Lauderdale District Office, where she was promoted to group supervisor and assigned to head the Southeast Florida Drug Task Force, consisting of 22 local agencies. In 2000, she was transferred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (internal affairs) in Plantation, Fla., to serve as an inspector.
Two years later, Kempshall became a senior inspector at DEA headquarters in Washington D.C. She was then promoted to assistant deputy chief inspector of OPR at headquarters, and later served as chief of the executive policy and strategic planning staff in the Office of the Deputy Administrator, DEA. In 2005, Kempshall moved to the Houston Field Division as an assistant special agent in charge, where she serves as commander of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. In this position, she supervises more than 100 agents, as well as state and local investigators.
For more information on drug awareness, please visit www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm.
“We live in a society in which drugs are more accessible than ever before. Because of this, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to have Beth Kempshall join us to assist in increasing drug awareness within the Darlington community,” said Chris Allen, Upper School counselor. “Agent Kempshall has been on the frontline in the fight against drugs and will be able to give us all a very realistic view of how drugs are affecting the lives of our children. It is our hope that increased awareness will better equip our parents and faculty to help when students are faced with this issue. More importantly, we hope that our students will be better equipped to make wise decisions.”
On April 16, Kempshall will meet with Middle and Upper School faculty in Dodd Banquet Room from 7 to 8:15 a.m.; Middle School students from 10 to 10:45 a.m.; Upper School students from 11 to 11:45 a.m.; seniors from 11:45 a.m. to noon; and Middle and Upper School parents from 7 to 8 p.m. The following day, she will meet with Lower School students and parents in the Lower School gym from 2 to 2:45 p.m. All meetings will take place in the chapel unless otherwise noted.
"The residents of more rural areas, such as northwest Georgia, are often under the misimpression that drug abuse is predominately confined to the urban and suburban areas of our country. Nothing could be further from the truth," said Kempshall. "Many small communities throughout the U.S. have drug abuse problems equal to, or surpassing, their nearest urban centers. The school community is the central focus in the lives of our children from the age of approximately 6 until they reach young adulthood and start their independent lives. As adolescents, our students are extremely susceptible to peer pressure and group approved attitudes; it is important to counter these often mistaken attitudes."
Kempshall joined the Drug Enforcement Administration following her graduation from Brenau College at the age of 21. In October of 1984, she was assigned to the Las Vegas District Office as an undercover agent in numerous drug investigations for cocaine, heroine and methamphetamine. Four years later, she was promoted and transferred to the Los Angeles Field Division, where she was assigned to the Task Force with the LAPD and, later, to the Organized Crime Drug Task Force (OCDTF).
In 1991, Kempshall was transferred to the DEA International Training Division in Quantico, Va., to serve as an instructor for Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. In this role, she was selected as the DEA’s representative in the development of the first International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest. In 1995, she joined the Miami Field Division, Ft. Lauderdale District Office, where she was promoted to group supervisor and assigned to head the Southeast Florida Drug Task Force, consisting of 22 local agencies. In 2000, she was transferred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (internal affairs) in Plantation, Fla., to serve as an inspector.
Two years later, Kempshall became a senior inspector at DEA headquarters in Washington D.C. She was then promoted to assistant deputy chief inspector of OPR at headquarters, and later served as chief of the executive policy and strategic planning staff in the Office of the Deputy Administrator, DEA. In 2005, Kempshall moved to the Houston Field Division as an assistant special agent in charge, where she serves as commander of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. In this position, she supervises more than 100 agents, as well as state and local investigators.
For more information on drug awareness, please visit www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm.
