UCF Psychology Grad Excels Throughout Young Legal Career

Alicia Koepke, ’02, describes her UCF psychology degree as the perfect complement to her law degree. As a trial lawyer, Koepke constantly analyzes people’s behavior and how people will perceive her clients and their cases.

After graduating from UCF cum laude with a B.S. in psychology in 2002, Koepke excelled throughout her law school experience at Stetson University. Now, as a partner attorney at Trenam Kemker law firm in Tampa, she continues to excel throughout her young legal career.

While at Stetson, she earned the Suzanne Armstrong Memorial Award for excellence in legal writing and professionalism and also graduated magna cum laude.

Koepke joined Trenam Kemker law firm out of law school in 2006 and practices in the Commercial Litigation practice group. There, she counsels clients through complex business and employment matters.

She has been highly successful in her legal career; being recognized as an “Up & Comer” by the Tampa Bay Business Journal and being recognized by Florida Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for four different years. She also earned a spot in Tampa Business Leader’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs list.

Apart from her professional success, Koepke is very active in the Tampa community. From non-profit to leadership, she stays busy contributing to her neighborhood.

Koepke shared some more information about her time at UCF, her current success, and her advice to students and alumni.

Why did you choose to attend UCF?

UCF was the first campus I visited on my college tour. It was also my first trip to Florida. I instantly fell in love with both. As a New Englander, I could not believe how beautiful and new the campus looked and how warm and friendly the people were. I knew I had found my new home.

Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at UCF?

I was in the sorority Delta Delta Delta, I was the Activities Coordinator for Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, and I was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and Golden Key International Honour Society.

Have you stayed involved with UCF since graduation? If so, how?

Yes, but I would love to get more involved. I recently attended my first Tampa Bay UCF alumni event and I plan to attend more.

What is your best UCF memory?

My best memories of UCF are from homecoming. The entire week is full of activities that add to UCF pride and build friendships between classmates. My favorite homecoming activities were Spirit Splash, because it is unique to UCF, and Skit Knight, because I was always amazed at how talented and creative the students were.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Being in trial. It is exhausting but exhilarating.

What is your most memorable experience on the job?

My most memorable experience was giving my first closing argument to a jury. After months of preparation and nearly two weeks of trial, I was finally able to tell my clients’ story.

What piece of advice would you give to current students as well as UCF alumni?

Life is full of compromise. The best way to do that is to look at things from someone else’s perspective. As the character Atticus Finch said in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

Koepke shared some more responses to help us get a feel for her personality.

What do you do for fun?

I like fairly typical things. In fact, my answer sounds a bit like a personal ad. I like long walks on the beach, a good book, a nice glass of wine and traveling throughout the Caribbean. But one of my favorite things to do started as a UCF tradition. My friends and I went to Headlights to karaoke my junior year. We had so much fun that we started going every Tuesday night. I have continued that tradition to this day in Tampa.

What is the most generous or thoughtful gift you have ever received?

My beautiful Japanese Chin named Bella. I did not have dogs growing up. When my husband introduced me to Bella it changed my life forever. We now have three dogs, including Bella.

What movie can you quote word for word?

Jerry McGuire.

What is your best birthday memory?

In college, I worked at a restaurant. One night my manager kept me longer than everyone else even though the restaurant was dead. When I finally arrived home at Knights Crossing, a friend met me at my car and asked me to go to Applebee’s for dessert because he said he needed relationship advice. As exhausted as I was, I reluctantly agreed to go. When we finally returned from Applebee’s, I opened the door to my apartment and was stunned to see all of my friends there for a surprise birthday party in my honor. Everyone, even my manager, was in on it.