A new opportunity for this nontraditional student

Keisha Frederick ’25 unlocked a world of opportunities when she traded her corporate cubicle for a college classroom.

Despite 15 years of industry experience, Frederick was denied a promotion to a management position without a bachelor’s degree.

“That ‘no’ was a gut punch, but also, I understood,” Frederick said.

Her employer offered tuition assistance, so Frederick enrolled at Guilford Technical Community College. She earned her associate degree and transferred to UNC through the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP).

Frederick spent the summer before her first semester at Carolina contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for advice. As a first-generation and non-traditional student, she needed direction. An academic adviser encouraged Frederick to reach out to leadership of the schools and departments that aligned with her goals and interests.

“The first person to get back to me was Dr. Charlie Tuggle. That email really changed everything,” Frederick said.

One of her first classes at Carolina was “MEJO 522: Producing Television News,” a UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media course with Professor of the Practice Leyla Santiago. In the course, students produce the award-winning newscast Carolina Week. Frederick had experience with broadcasting news at her church, where she shared weekly announcements with the congregation across three campuses.

“I know how to read a teleprompter,” Frederick said. “But to write a story, to edit a story, to record a story — I had no idea what I was doing. That class really pushed me beyond my limits. I learned so much. It was such hands-on, real-world experience, and I absolutely loved it.”

From there, Frederick immersed herself in the many opportunities offered by UNC Hussman. She served as vice president of the UNC Hussman Ambassadors; worked as the development and alumni affairs assistant; and joined the Carolina Association of Black Journalists.

“I learned that sitting behind a desk is just not my wheelhouse. I love talking to people. I love interacting with people,” Frederick said. “Had they not told me ‘no,’ I never would have jumped out of the nest. I would have stayed behind that desk.”

Through coursework and extracurriculars, Frederick elevated her natural gift for connecting with others into refined communication skills.

“UNC Hussman equipped me with the power of storytelling,” she said. “Whether it’s written or visual or spoken, I’ve learned how to convey a message that’s not only seen and heard — but felt.”

In her final semester, Frederick designed her own independent study capstone project. She produced a virtual tour of the school that highlights UNC Hussman’s resources and offers an inside look at Carroll Hall and Curtis Media Center.

“This has been the most rewarding experience,” Frederick said. “To take an idea, bring it to life and know it will serve prospective students for years to come has been an incredible full-circle moment for me.”

The project will be maintained by the Hussman Ambassadors following Frederick’s graduation. The group is responsible for leading in-person tours of the school, so she is charging them with updating the virtual experience as the school expands and evolves.

Associate Professor Livis Freeman, who advised Frederick on the project, first met her through a career preparation course at UNC Hussman. She knew he was the right adviser because he consistently challenged her to realize her full potential.

“Working with Keisha has been truly refreshing,” Freeman said. “Her incredible work ethic shows in everything she does, but what really stands out is how she uplifts everyone around her. She’s left her mark here in ways that will last long after graduation.”

Instructors like Freeman and the experiential classes at UNC have prepared Frederick to hear fewer “no’s” and more “yesses.”

“There will never be a time that I walk in a room and I am ill-prepared for something that I want, especially something that I’m capable of getting,” she said.

Outside of her classes and extracurricular activities, Frederick has sought out career advising opportunities through the UNC Hussman Alumni Association Mentorship Program and University Career Services. Her mentors have ranged from UNC Hussman alumna Alyssa Townsend ’15, Nike’s CEO of global communications, to Jonathan Smith, a student at the UNC School of Medicine. Townsend shared insight into the media industry, while Smith gave her a new perspective on networking and navigating higher education.

“It is very important to use your resources,” Frederick said. “My professors have not been the only people who have helped me.”

While she was often on the receiving end of mentorship, Frederick makes a point to offer it back. She advised incoming C-STEP students, supported her peers as a resident advisor and sat on panels during new student orientation. Although she’s still figuring out her next steps, one thing is certain: Carolina opened many doors for Frederick, and she intends to keep them open for the next generation of Tar Heels.

“I promise that I’ll come back. I will share with future students what was so generously shared with me,” Frederick said. “The greatest stories aren’t the ones we tell. They’re the ones we pass on.”

Academic advising with Keisha Frederick

After four semesters of media and journalism courses, Frederick has curated a list of her favorite instructors.

“Each one of them challenged me in different ways and helped me to grow as a storyteller and a thinker. Please also note that if I forgot anybody, please charge it to my head and not to my heart because I love all of them,” Frederick said.

Swipe through to read what Frederick has to say about the instructors who have made an impact on her career at UNC Hussman.