Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1847, its first classes were held on November 12, 1849. Lawrence was the second college in the U.S. to be founded as a coeducation ...
, a position she began in July 2021. She is Lawrence University's first
BIPOC
The term "person of color" ( : people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is primarily used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is primarily associated with, the U ...
Carter grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey with a father who worked in a chemical plant and her mom home with Carter and her siblings. She graduated from
Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hackensack Public Schools. Hackensack High School serves students from the Bergen County, New Jer ...
in 1980. She credits her mother, Harriet, with inspiring her interest in the arts. Carter received her undergraduate degree in communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she was captain of the track and field team. She went on to earn an M.A in communications from
William Paterson University
William Paterson University, officially William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education.
Founded in 1855 and was named after American ju ...
in 1987 and a J.D. from
Rutgers University
Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
in 1993.
Career
Carter began her career in higher education as a way to pay for graduate school. She worked as a residence hall director at
William Paterson College
William Paterson University, officially William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education.
Founded in 1855 and was named after American ju ...
and director of residence life at Fairleigh Dickinson College while studying for her master's degree.
Carter was hired to be the Director of Student affairs at the
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...
in 1988, and spent twenty-five years there eventually becoming their first chief legal officer. During her time there, she launched the school's legal department and jazz studies program, taught on the liberal arts and graduate faculty, launched diversity initiatives, and eventually attained the roles of Vice President and General Counsel.
In 2013, she left Juilliard for a position at The
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), in downtown Newark, New Jersey, United States, is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. Home to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO), more than nine million visitors (i ...
where she remained until 2014. She went on to join Eastern Kentucky University as Executive Vice President and University Counsel in 2014. She was appointed President of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania on May 18, 2017. Before leaving Shippensburg, she described herself as a "student centered president" who was most proud of how she led the university through the first year of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
On March 4, 2021 it was announced that Carter would be taking over as president of Lawrence University; she is the first Black president of the university. She replaced
Mark Burstein Mark Burstein may refer to:
* Mark Burstein (academic administrator), 16th president of Lawrence University
* Mark Burstein (editor) (born 1950), editor and expert on the works of Lewis Carroll
{{hndis, Burstein, Mark ...
. She had also been a finalist in the 2021 search for a president at Ramapo College in New Jersey.
Awards
Carter was presented with the Clarion University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007, and was inducted into the Clarion University Hall of Fame in 2018. She was named one of 25 Outstanding Women in Higher Education by the magazine ''Diverse: Issues in Higher Education'' in 2021.
Personal life
Carter is married to Gary Robinson, a police detective in the
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.