Alyssa Townsend, a journalism major from Raleigh, wants to use the Miss UNC award to put smiles on Tar Heels’ faces. She is the current president of National Pan-Hellenic council and is the publicity chairwoman for the Black Student Movement.
Townsend came to Carolina from an N.C. State household. Townsend said she fell in love with UNC after visiting the campus in high school and has been passionate about UNC ever since.
“My academic adviser, he says that I’m a professional student because if I could, I would take every single class here,” Townsend said.
Adversity has shaped her experience and influenced how she plans to serve. She hopes her journey overcoming mental health challenges, such as stress and anxiety, can help future UNC students.
“What UNC is is the student body,” Townsend said.
She said this would give her an opportunity to represent broad and diverse student population.
“I just consider myself the average student, and that’s why I want to represent the student body, because I feel like I can relate to every single student here,” Townsend said.
Townsend said she will make a difference through “Tar Heel Trifecta,” a week of events supporting students’ mental health.
“That help could make a huge difference,” Townsend said. “That help could get you that degree. That help could pull you out of that dark place.”
