Friederike is an international educator who is committed to guiding and mentoring students through experiential learning experiences and supporting them in reaching their personal and professional goals. Friederike previously served as director of Burch Programs and Honors Study Abroad at UNC from 2005-2015. During that time, she designed and managed experiential learning programs abroad in collaboration with UNC faculty and discovered her passion for mentoring students. She also briefly worked with the Carolina Covenant and the Morehead-Cain Foundation.
Prior to joining the Campus Y team in 2019, Friederike conducted her dissertation research while raising her young daughter. Her dissertation focused on the role of faculty mentoring relationships in the college experience of first-generation, low-income students. A native of East Germany, Friederike came to the US on a gap year program, working as an AuPair in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She lives in Chapel Hill with her partner, their daughter, and delightful puppy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and international business from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master’s degree in international education from the SIT Graduate Institute, and a PhD in educational research and policy analysis from North Carolina State University.