Michael Frederick

Michael Leon Frederick, affectionately known as Big-Mike, serves as the Director of Internships and Career Planning at Catawba College, overseeing the Career Services department. An alumnus of Catawba College, Michael was a student-athlete who played football, and his strong ties to the college have continued throughout his career. He founded and currently directs iBelong, Catawba College's first minority mentoring program, dedicated to empowering young men at Catawba to mentor local youth. With over 20 years of experience in secondary and higher education, Michael is passionate about guiding students to discover their purpose and align their academic and professional ambitions.

Michael and his family are deeply connected to the Catawba College community. His wife, Tinea, is currently an online student at Catawba, majoring in Business Administration. His oldest son, Malachi, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as a freshman, while his daughter, Zaniyah, is a junior majoring in Finance/Accounting at Catawba College. Michael also has two younger children, Jeremiah and Makiyah. In his free time, he either volunteers on campus to support Catawba programs or travels with his family, ensuring that his professional and personal life remains closely intertwined with the Catawba community.

As the Director of Internships and Career Planning, Michael assist students with:

• Career planning and referrals in the career development process, including resumes/cover letters/personal statements, interviewing, networking, branding, social media, etc.
• Connecting employers and students through interviews, mock interviews, speakers, etc.
• Planning and implementing job fairs and on-campus recruiting events