Timothy McLendon reflects on his transformative college journey, including leadership roles, D.C. internships and his passion for justice.
When applying to colleges during the pandemic, Timothy McLendon had no interest in coming to Carolina.
Now, as he reflects on his experience as senior class president, McLendon said he’s surprised he ever felt that way. Today he considers himself a lifelong Tar Heel.
“UNC has been the best experience of my life,” he said. “I can’t believe I almost didn’t go.”
The Mooresville, North Carolina, native initially sought an out-of-state college experience but was drawn to UNC-Chapel Hill after being admitted to Honors Carolina and the Will Fellows Program and receiving the Fred Morrison Scholarship. These opportunities offered him a full ride with funding to study abroad.
“The correspondence I was getting from the University and Honors Carolina felt very intentional,” McLendon said. “They had actually read my resume and my essays. They were communicating with me like a person.”
McLendon will graduate this spring with a double major in English and political science and a minor in history — a combination he describes as learning one subject in three different ways.
McLendon arrived on campus determined to be senior class president, a dream he first had in high school after he ran and lost that election.
This year, he and his team launched a new Instagram page and hosted events to make up for lost senior year experiences in high school due to the pandemic, including monthly movie nights, an end-of-semester celebration at the Bell Tower and even a prom.
“Obviously, the academics, the campus, the extracurriculars, the sports — they’re all amazing. But what truly makes UNC feel like home is the people I’ve met here,” he said.
As a Will Fellows scholar, McLendon came to campus with a built-in friend group. The close-knit program provides about 10 Honors Carolina students with special opportunities for those who display leadership, initiative and a desire to make a positive impact on the world.
McLendon participated in the competitive Washington Program at the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, which guides African American male college students to use their talents to make a difference.
His time with the institute included workshops, guest lectures and internships. McLendon spent two summers in Washington, D.C., working at the Center for Law and Policy and the nonprofit Alliance for Justice.
An aspiring lawyer and, possibly, judge, McLendon gained valuable insight into improving legal systems and working toward a more just society through his summer work.
Out of his long list of achievements, he said his time as vice chair of UNC’s Honor Court stands out.
Before transitioning last fall to a conduct board model guided by University staff, the Honor Court was led by students.
“Honor Court made me realize that understanding all pieces of a case is so important,” McLendon said.
He hopes to carry these principles with him throughout his career.
One of McLendon’s favorite classes was POLI 203: “Race, Innocence and the End of the Death Penalty” taught by Frank Baumgartner, the Richard J. Richardson Distinguished Professor of Political Science. McLendon said the class greatly altered his perception of criminology.
The class hosted a speaker series where students heard from people who were sentenced to death row after being falsely accused. The experience gave McLendon a more nuanced view of incarceration and the U.S. criminal justice system.
McLendon is still deciding his plans after graduation but intends to pursue his passion for promoting education in underserved communities. Eventually he hopes to apply to law school.
As his final semester comes to a close, McLendon offers this advice to graduating Tar Heels: “Don’t stress about the future or worry about the past. Focus on making the most of the present.”
Originally by Sophia Melin ’27, College of Arts and Sciences
