UNC School of Education faculty members Jemilia Davis, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor and Human and Organizational Leadership Development (HOLD) program director and Helyne Frederick, Ph.D., clinical professor and Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) program director, have been named 2025-26 ELEVATE Fixed-Term Faculty Development Award recipients by the UNC Office of the Provost. They are among 17 faculty members across the University selected for this honor.
The ELEVATE Faculty Support Program provides awards up to $25,000 to support fixed-term faculty in their research and scholarly endeavors, offering recipients flexible funding to drive innovative projects. Designed to foster excellence in research, scholarship, and pedagogical innovation, ELEVATE provides recognition and support to enhance the impact of fixed-term faculty within the academic community. Faculty can allocate the funds based on their priorities — whether to advance their research or develop new approaches to teaching and learning.
“Dr. Davis and Dr. Frederick lead our two forward-thinking undergraduate degree programs and continuously innovate to ensure their students have impactful classroom, internship, and capstone experiences,” said Jill V. Hamm, Ph.D., interim dean and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education. “The School is extremely proud of their work and dedication, which ultimately means our HDFS and HOLD graduates will serve children, families, communities, organizations, and more at the highest levels. These awards recognize their leadership and will help to advance that leadership.”
Read more about the award recipients.
Jemilia Davis, Ph.D.
Davis, the HOLD program director at the UNC School of Education, is passionate about fostering leadership development through courageous conversations and meaningful experiences that equip students with critical leadership skills. Since joining the School in 2021, she has played a key role in shaping the HOLD program, preparing students for leadership roles across various organizations.
As a qualitative researcher and scholar-practitioner, Davis examines the role of senior leadership in organizations, particularly in higher education, and how executive leaders’ perspectives, practices, and policies influence equitable success for historically excluded communities. While much of her career has been in administrative leadership, she also contributes to research and scholarship on organizational leadership and student success. Davis’s award proposal, “Catalyzing Global Leadership Excellence through Partnerships & High-Impact Experiences,” outlines approaches to enhance the curriculum and expand opportunities that prepare HOLD students for the global economy, including in curricular and co-curricular experiences. Through partnerships with global institutions and collaboration with faculty colleagues, Davis aims to create learning experiences that strengthen students’ leadership skills in an international context.
Davis is part of the 2024-25 ElevateNC: Higher Education cohort, a leadership initiative led by The Hunt Institute and myFutureNC that aims to build state and regional leadership capacity while developing community-specific strategies to help North Carolina reach its goal of two million residents with a postsecondary credential or degree by 2030.
Helyne Frederick, Ph.D.
In addition to serving as HDFS program director, Frederick is also director of interprofessional education and practice. A Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), she is dedicated to preparing students and professionals to provide meaningful services for children and families. Since joining the School in 2017, Frederick has played a key role in shaping the HDFS program, which provides rigorous coursework and high-impact internships for students pursuing careers in the helping professions and beyond. Students in the HDFS program have ventured into careers and graduate programs in education, health, social services, and more. Dr. Frederick will use the funding to expand professional development for students interested in health and allied health professions and disabilities.
Frederick’s research examines familial and extra-familial factors influencing adolescent and young adult sexual health, with a particular focus on Black and Caribbean youth. She employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods to investigate sexual behaviors, health outcomes, and communication within families. Her work includes qualitative research with Grenadian adolescents on reproductive health and mother-child communication about sexuality. Through her leadership in research, teaching, and program development, she continues to make an impact on student success by fostering knowledge and practical experience in the field, guiding students into careers in education and helping professions.
To learn more about the award, visit provost.unc.edu/faculty-awards.