For many years, a member of the GAA Board of Directors has presented a “My Carolina Story” at each of the board’s quarterly meetings, and we are sharing their stories with all of our alumni. Hark the Sound.
“My Carolina friends helped me to remember to have fun amidst all the studying while I helped them to remember to study amidst all the fun.”
June 8, 2024
My name is Jennell McIntosh, and I’m a Tar Heel. Super cheesy start, but I couldn’t resist. I’ve always thought of myself as the definition of a Tar Heel born and bred. Both my mother and my father are Tar Heels. Many of their college and now lifelong friends are the Tar Heels who’ve become my aunts and uncles. I still to this day get to meet Tar Heels who knew and were friends with my parents.
I went to many Black Alumni Reunions when I was younger, and I even have my own ritual for UNC Duke basketball games that’s been around since I was in middle school. This ritual stems from my mom and me and our nervousness and anxiety when it’s time for our Tar Heels to face the Blue Devils on the basketball court. We ALWAYS watch the whole game BUT the first half is enjoyed with the TV on mute. Our nerves just can’t take it for a full game, and that’s how we survive the excitement and anticipation of who will win.
Out of this tradition and early life exposure to all things Carolina blue, I always knew that I wanted to be a Tar Heel. I didn’t go to any of the amazing programs offered to high school students to explore UNC like Project Uplift (PU) because I already knew — but I did later become a PU counselor because I had to share my love for UNC with the next generation of Tar Heels. I also was blessed to receive the Light on the Hill Society scholarship to help ease the financial burden a bit once I was admitted to UNC.
My path to making lifelong friends at UNC started as early as orientation and went on into Sunset Serenade (an a cappella group showcase) my freshman year where I met my core group of friends at Carolina. I’ve been through many highs and lows with these friends from some very memorable Spring Breaks, weddings and babies to holding each other up through mental health crises and losing loved ones. My Carolina friends helped me to remember to have fun amidst all the studying while I helped them to remember to study amidst all the fun.
They even helped me to find my voice for activism as I later became the president of the UNC chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). That voice for activism has remained a pivotal part of my identity as I later became a student member of the board for the Light on the Hill Society scholarship. The Light on the Hill Society scholarship is a scholarship for Black graduate and first-year students that was created as a tribute to Carolina’s Black graduates of the ’50s and ’60s. I continued my efforts to increase the diversity of UNC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program through meetings with the program director and community outreach programs with Northside Elementary School. And even today, as I chair the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT) in the chapter’s first year of existence.
When I was preparing for graduation — while I love Carolina — I thought maybe it was time to explore somewhere new, so I applied to many different physical therapy doctoral programs across the country. But I still applied to Carolina because, duh, it’s a great program. Well, my beloved Carolina wait-listed me, and then it hit me that, OK, I still want to be a Tar Heel. That’s when I knew for certain that the sky is Carolina blue, and my God is a Tar Heel, because somehow I got a spot off of the wait list! So that gave me three more years to be a Tar Heel on campus, and my little sister joined me as an undergrad during that time.
Funny story, when my sister started here, she told me that random people would wave at her, thinking she was me because we look alike. I told her to wave back so people didn’t think I was being rude. I made even more amazing lifelong friends and met some great mentors.
OK, so after PT school and SEVEN years on campus, I really was ready to explore something new. Upon graduating with my doctorate of physical therapy, I worked in outpatient orthopedics in Carbondale, Illinois — extra credit for anyone who knows where that is. Then I worked in acute care in Tallahassee Florida, right as COVID came about. That’s where I realized that I don’t like adults and wanted to work with children.
I went on to Miami to complete my pediatric residency, and now I’m in Colorado working for the Children’s Hospital. It’s been great to explore new places.
One evening in Colorado, Doug Dibbert’s name popped up on my caller ID, and I thought it was a scam because how does THE Doug Dibbert have my number. Luckily, I answered. He ended up asking me to run for a spot on the Alumni Association board, and it reminded me that I could still be an active Tar Heel and use my voice for good from anywhere in the world. Many of my friends, family and colleagues joke that I must really love Carolina to continue to travel back to volunteer with the Alumni Association and the Light on the Hill Society — because this travel is not cheap or for the faint of heart with the difference in time zones.
Carolina has ALWAYS been a part of my story, and I am so grateful for that. I realized this past Mother’s Day weekend that my mom has had a Tar Heel on campus for the last 13 years. My little sister graduated with her doctor of dental surgery that weekend. Because of my family’s love and support, specifically during the hard times — my grandmother’s message to Keep Going and her love fueled me to not only become a double Tar Heel but to continue to be an active Tar Heel —for that, I feel immensely blessed. I still have hope that despite the recent changes and decisions being made, I can continue to be proud to say that I’m Jennell McIntosh, and I’m a Tar Heel. Thank you.