Office Hours with John Gardner
Laurie Carter discusses her experiences across three different types of institutions. She shares how to prepare institutions and students to fill the needs and demands of today’s society.
Laurie A. Carter joined Lawrence University as its 17th president on July 1, 2021, bringing with her more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education. In her short time as President, Carter has brought a sense of urgency to the Lawrence community. Recognizing the need for Lawrence to be well-positioned in an ever-changing higher education landscape, Carter implemented student-centered Guiding Coalitions to facilitate more effective change implementation at the university. Additionally, she has identified focused investment priorities through community-wide engagement that will position Lawrence to anticipate and meet the challenges of the future.
Carter came to Lawrence after serving as president of Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Her tenure at Shippensburg focused on prioritizing student success, telling the university’s story, building a relationship with the community, and enhancing overall quality. Carter’s efforts to strengthen diversity and inclusion at Shippensburg University were recognized by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, which named her as one of 25 outstanding women in higher education. Prior to assuming the presidency of Shippensburg, Carter served as executive vice president and university counsel for Eastern Kentucky University and held various inaugural leadership positions during her 25 years of service at The Juilliard School, including vice president, general counsel, and executive director of Jazz Studies.
Carter currently serves as a Commissioner for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and as a member of Annapolis Group Board, the ThedaCare Board of Trustees, the Millennium Leadership Institute Steering Committee, and The Links, Incorporated. A native of New Jersey, Carter attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications. She received her Master of Arts degree in communications from William Paterson College and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University.
