Paul Lloyd Hemphill has spent much of his life asking one question: What helps a young person become the kind of adult a parent hopes he or she will become?

As a Vietnam veteran, Bronze Star recipient, author, and founder of American Education Defenders, Paul has learned that character isn’t built by lectures. It grows through stories, conversations, choices, and the influence of adults who care.

For nearly 20 years, Paul worked in the field of college admissions marketing, where he saw firsthand the challenges facing teenagers and their families. His perspective made him a popular television guest on stations from Boston to Washington, D.C., advising parents on helping their teens prepare for and get into college.

Those years taught him something even more important: preparing a teenager for college isn’t enough. We also have to prepare them for life.

That’s why his work today is designed not simply for teens, but for parents and teens together. His books and videos give families a natural way to talk about courage, responsibility, perseverance, self-reliance, respect, and the choices that shape a life.

Paul is the author of more than 10 books focused on character, leadership, and personal growth. Inspiration For Teens reached #1 Amazon Best Seller status eight times in 2024, and Stand For Something reached #2.

Today, his mission through American Education Defenders is simple: help parents strengthen their influence while they still have the opportunity to do it.

SPEAKING & MEDIA
Paul is available to speak with homeschool groups, churches, schools, conferences, and parent organizations about character development, family engagement, and helping young people prepare for life.

BOOKS & RESOURCES
Paul has written more than 10 books devoted to character, leadership, and personal growth, along with videos and family resources designed to turn important ideas into meaningful parent-teen conversations.

WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
Parents have more influence than they sometimes realize. Paul’s work gives parents and teens a reason to sit down together, talk about the choices that shape character, and turn one meaningful conversation into something that lasts.