Born in Tamil Nadu, India, Fred earned a bachelor's degree in economics and statistics/political science from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, in 1971. He earned a master's degree in economics from Madras University, Chennai, India, in 1975; a master of divinity degree from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Tacoma, Washington in 1980; and a master of theology degree from Faith Seminary in 1981. He served 18 years as Executive Director for the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries.