After 22 years, multiple jobs, a visual impairment and a daughter, Rotisha Herndon is scheduled to graduate from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) on Dec. 12.
Herndon grew up in Oxford, North Carolina. Her father was a U.S. Army reservist, network cyber security analyst and pastor (he died in 2020 from COVID-19), and her mother worked as an assistant director for a tax firm. Both attended college in Greensboro, North Carolina, though neither earned a degree.
It was in high school that Herndon first became interested in psychology under the guidance of her high school assistant track coach and psychology teacher.
She graduated from high school in 2000 and enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she studied and ran track until she broke her right ankle. In 2002, she transferred to NCCU.
“My dad’s sister was an (adjunct) on the political science faculty,” Herndon said.
At the time, she was not mentally prepared to both attend college and work full time, so in 2003 she left NCCU.
Herndon next worked as a corrections officer at Polk Youth Institution (later renamed Granville Correctional Institution) for two years and then in juvenile group homes for eight years.
During this time, she gave birth to a daughter who had health challenges that required multiple surgeries. Her daughter’s health challenges inspired Herndon to switch careers.
“Having a child with disabilities has made me more of a strong, resilient person who is willing to go above and beyond for people I don’t even know,” said Herndon.
For the next bunch of years, she alternated between working in health insurance and health care. During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was a traveling health care worker at COVID testing sites, vaccination sites and treatment sites.
Over the years, Herndon never gave up on her goal of completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In late 2021, she enrolled at Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson, North Carolina, and earned an associate degree. In August 2024, she returned to NCCU after a 21-year hiatus.
NCCU Redux
Returning to NCCU as an adult has had its challenges.
“Being a non-traditional student, I try to maneuver how to engage with people who are younger,” Herndon said.
“Rotisha has been tremendously supportive of many of our younger NCCU psychology scholars,” said Milicia Tedder, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology.
Having been in the working world longer than most of her classmates have been alive has given Herndon knowledge to share. She reminds her classmates of the importance of attending class, finding a mentor, getting an internship, studying enough, having an elevator pitch, updating resumes, etc.
Another challenge is a visual impairment Herndon gained while working as a healthcare worker. She manages her visual impairment by limiting her screen time, using a screen visor, taking more time to complete assignments, using a magnifying glass to read text and a text-to-talk program.
In spite of those challenges, Herndon has kept up a 3.43 GPA (it might go higher by graduation). She’s also been active in a variety of extracurricular activities.
An incomplete list includes:
- Salvation Army food distribution and coat drive volunteer
- Basketball hostess volunteer for men’s and women’s teams 2024-2025 and 2025-2026
- Graduate and Professional commencement ceremony hostess for fall 2024 and Spring 2025
- Honor’s Convocation hostess for fall 2025
- Baccalaureate commencement ceremony hostess for fall 2024 and fall 2025
- Nixon Thorpe Psychology Club inductee in 2025
- Trio Ambassador 2024 -2025
- IGNITE Fellow (Teach for America tutoring) Spring 2025 and Fall 2025
- TRIO Upward Bound mentor for 2025
- Third place co-presenter poster presentation at Michigan State University in 2024
- National Society of Leadership and Success 2025
- Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society inductee in Fall 2025
One of her pleasures in returning to NCCU has been the company. Her daughter, who is now a sophomore studying criminal justice, also enrolled at NCCU in August 2024.
“The coolest part has been being here with my daughter and engaging in activities with my daughter,” Herndon said. “Seeing her come out of her shell and being an active member of campus.”
After graduation, Herndon is making up her mind to either earn a master’s in social work or a master’s and Ph.D. in clinical psychology.