Felicia Henderson

About Felicia

• Lecturer

Biography

One of eight children, Felicia D. Henderson grew up in Pasadena, CA, where she currently resides. Although she always loved to write, Ms. Henderson didn’t initially consider it as a career. She attended UCLA, where she majored in Psycho-Biology. After receiving her B.A. Ms. Henderson embarked upon a five-year stint in traditional business that began as an investment research manager and ended as a consultant at Kidder, Peabody & Company, after which she decided to go back to school. While pursuing an M.B.A. in corporate finance at the University of Georgia, she received the NBC National Fellowship.

Ms. Henderson landed her first job in television at NBC as a Creative Associate. After spending a television season reading and analyzing scripts, she knew she had to write. “I finally realized that I am a writer in my soul. It is the only thing I know I have to do for the rest of my life.” When she decided to seriously pursue a writing career, Ms. Henderson applied and was accepted into the prestigious Warner Bros. Writers Workshop. Upon completing the program she became an apprentice on “Family Matters,” where she was on the writing staff for two years. Then, she moved on to “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” before co-producing “Moesha.” Ms. Henderson then co-executive produced “Sister, Sister,” while simultaneously furthering her education. She returned to her alma mater, UCLA, to pursue an M.F.A. in the University’s School of Theatre, Film and Television.

In 1999, she was given the opportunity to create “Soul Food: The Series,” a one-hour drama for the Showtime Network based on the hit film, “Soul Food.” On the air for five seasons, the series became the longest running drama in television history to feature an African-American cast. The self-proclaimed researchaholic has gained more control of her career by writing, producing, and directing. “I don’t think it is possible to know too much about what you do. I’ve worked at a network, a studio, have written sitcoms, and created a drama. Although it all starts with the written word, I’m not naïve enough to think that success happens in a vacuum.” says Ms. Henderson.

During the four critically acclaimed seasons that Ms. Henderson presided over “Soul Food,” it received NAACP Image Awards for Best Drama Series three years in a row. Ms. Henderson also received a Gracie Award for her depiction of women; commendations from The Black Screenwriters Foundation; and the National Organization of Women in Film TV & Radio Diligence Award. She was honored with UCLA’s Tom Bradley Alumnus of the Year award in 2004.

“What I am most proud of are the scholarships,” says Henderson. She has endowed the Felicia D. Henderson Screenwriting Scholarship at UCLA; and along with close friends and colleagues, Mara Brock Akil, Sara Finney Johnson, and Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ms. Henderson has endowed The Four Sisters Scholarship at UCLA’s Film School. “Giving back is really the best reward of success. If people like us don’t step up, the creative minds of the underrepresented might not get the opportunity to pursue their dreams.” Recently, Ms. Henderson realized another of her own dreams when she directed music videos for Grammy winning gospel duo, Mary Mary; and multi-platinum selling Angie Stone.

Most recently, Ms. Henderson spent a season as Co-Executive producer on The CW’s “Gossip Girl.” Currently, she is a Co-Executive Producer on the new Fox series, “Fringe.” She is also the Zakin-Hunter Chairholder of Screenwriting in the UCLA film school, where she also teaches television drama writing; a member of the Women in Film Foundation board of trustees; and a doctoral student in Cinema and Media Studies at UCLA.