Meredith Franklin Keaton ’08: From Model UN to City Hall

A Foundation of Servant Leadership
Keaton attended Hutchison from early childhood through graduation. She credits Hutchison with shaping her spirit to serve by providing opportunities to get out into the community and see the difference one could make. She fondly remembers the Great Penny Hunt for MIFA when she was in early childhood, Christmas parties with Perea Preschool students, and being part of the middle school community service committee. Summers were spent volunteering at Saint Francis Hospital. She was inducted into Hutchison’s Ascensus Society, which requires 125 service hours, in 9th grade, well before most students complete that number of hours.

Keaton’s mentors in Hutchison classrooms also made an impact, including Nina Haley, Carole Hooper, Deedee Perel, Pat Newberry Kelly, Mary Lee Wesberry, and Hadley Hury. These and other faculty members instilled in her an excitement for learning. The social science classes in particular piqued her interest, leading her to the work she does today to improve Memphis.

Her passion for service continued throughout her undergraduate years at Saint Louis University. A current member of the Junior League of Memphis and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, she continues her service by packing backpacks with food for families in need and by volunteering at Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry.

“Whether it’s professionally, perhaps by mentoring a younger employee, or whether it’s through volunteering, such as serving children and families by helping them to build the skills and confidence they need to move forward. With my work with the City of Memphis and the city council, I’m able to do what I can to help make Memphis as good as it can be for every single person who calls it home.”

Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zone—Literally
Almost 10 years after graduation, with her Hutchison teachers’ encouragement to step out of her comfort zone still fresh in her mind, Keaton put on dancing shoes! A dancer from the time she was little and throughout high school, she had not performed for 10 years when she saw an audition notice for the Hot Foot Honeys on social media in 2017. She has been a member of the group since, performing in numerous shows and even choreographing several numbers. “It was intimidating at first, but then I realized, ‘What is there to lose?’ That’s what I loved about Hutchison. You could just try things. You could join a club, you could learn, and everyone there was learning with you. I’ve carried that philosophy with me.”

As Keaton moves forward in her career, she wants to continue to serve Memphis, whether it is through community service, board service, or other opportunities that may arise. Looking back, Keaton sees Hutchison as the place that gave her the confidence to keep learning, embrace new opportunities, and trust that changing direction would lead to something greater.

“I can’t overstate how much Hutchison gave to me. It set up an amazing trajectory for my life,” she said. “You can chart your own course, and you can change it. It will all work out. It might not work out how you thought at first, but you will still be able to make a difference, try new things, learn, meet new people, and help others. You might just do it in a different way than you originally thought.”