Carlene Hempel is a Journalism professor at Northeastern University rated 3.65/5 by 231 students, with 3.79/5 difficulty and 64.0% who would take them again (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Carlene Hempel professor reviews and ratings: 3.65/5 from 231 student reviews at Northeastern (64.0% would take again). TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
Hempel was tough in all the right ways. She gives constructive feedback and encourages asking questions with constructive responses. Most of which were explained through an example. Her class was not a cake walk by any means but she truly cares for her students. You need to put forth a lot of effort but she made it enjoyable.JRNL2201 2026-02-04 03:28:21 +0000 UTC
Carlene is an extremely caring teacher who values making close connections with her students. This being said, the class is very fast paced and once you get behind it's impossible to catch up unless you devote all of your time to it. I don't recommend taking the class with other writing heavy classes but if you want great feedback she is perfect.JRNL1102 2025-11-22 02:15:13 +0000 UTC
Caring Instructor, she transmits the passion for journalism. Tough grader.J1 2025-01-10 10:08:44 +0000 UTC
Be prepared to treat journalism like your profession, even as a first-year student. Carlene is super caring and wants her students to succeed but her expectations were unlike anything I've experienced before. Only would recommend for students who are absolutely certain they want to pursue the field of journalism in their future.JRNL1101 2024-04-29 01:34:38 +0000 UTC
carlene is a fantastic professor who challenges each of her students in a way that is still empathetic and kind. all carlene wants is for her students to learn through her fast-paced, hands-on, collaborative approach that mirrors a true newsroom. you will do much better in this class if you facilitate a relationship with her and your classmates!!!JOURNALISM2 2023-04-20 16:45:46 +0000 UTC
If you graduate from Northeastern as a journalism student without taking a class with Carlene first, you're doing yourself a disservice. She is the most caring and invested professor I've ever had here, and I've gotten so much out of her classes. She's makes a point to build a community in her class too, which is so refreshing at a big school.JRNL3630 2021-12-19 19:57:42 +0000 UTC
Carlene is professor that is going to make you a better writer. She is one of the best professors Ive had at Northeastern. She is a caring and wonderful professor who has a lot of knowledge to offer. Her notes are thoughtful. The whole semester I felt that she was on my teamunlike some professors who make it feel like they want you to fail.JRNL6200 2020-12-22 15:46:58 +0000 UTC
Carlene is easily the toughest teacher I've encountered at NU and her classes will completely stress you out. But she really knows her stuff and will make you such a better writer. There's NO cutting corners or getting away with not giving it your absolute best. Definitely recommend her classes, she is awesomeJ1J2 2013-11-21 08:20:34 +0000 UTC
The class itself was pretty helpful. Carlene is tough though. Fairly archaic journalism methods (loves newspapers, doesn't allow voice recorders for interviews, pretty anti-tech all around). Difficult to work with her if she disagrees with you, and there's a good chance she will.JRNL1150 2013-09-13 18:22:26 +0000 UTC
Don't take this class if you are an athlete.J1101 2013-04-30 19:34:00 +0000 UTC
Carlene scared the crap out of me. She is TOUGH but if you can survive her madness it will make you a far better journalism. Taking her class was like having a child, it was a full time job. You cannot slack, wait till the last minute or try to cut corners. Strick on cell phones. DO NOT SLACK and youll succeed in her class.JRNL2100 2012-11-12 13:33:05 +0000 UTC
OK people, here's the deal with Carlene: If you're interested in journalism and want to seriously make a career of it, there is no one better than her. She's a wonderful person and tells it like it is. She'll write you recommendation letters if you do well too. Carlene is amazing, simple as that, but be prepared to work, she expects you to.JRN1101 2010-08-31 11:25:52 +0000 UTC
She is not that great of a teacher if she doesn't like you personally. She has a very "my way or the highway" attitude. I used to schedule appointments to see her outside class and she wouldn't show up!JRNL101 2009-12-02 18:43:37 +0000 UTC
She is so nice and helpful! I loved this class. A lot of people thought it was really difficult, but I thought it wasn't that hard. It was just the right amount of difficulty.JRN101 2008-12-15 21:03:37 +0000 UTC
Hempel is the best journalism teacher I've had in my five years at NU. I took J1 and J2 from her. She is by far the hardest of the teachers, but you will become a better writer/reporter because of it. While she is demanding she is very nice and will help you outside of class even after you complete the class.JRN201 2008-04-29 15:55:30 +0000 UTC
Carlene Hempel has an average rating of 3.65/5 from 231 student reviews. 64.0% of students said they would take them again.
Carlene Hempel's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.79/5 based on student reviews.
Carlene Hempel has taught JRNL2201, JRNL3630, JRNL6200, JRNL1101, JRNL3305, JRNL3455, JRNL6305, JRNL6201 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.