Ronald Carter, Ph.D., serves as the CEO and President of Carter & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in higher education and nonprofit leadership development, based in High Point, North Carolina. His extensive career includes significant roles in academic leadership, executive search, executive coaching, and community development, making him a prominent figure in the field of higher education.

From 2009 to 2025, Dr. Carter was a Presidential Sage in the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program, where he prepared senior leaders to serve in American colleges and universities. Between 2018 and 2021, he worked as an executive search consultant with AGB Search LLC., assisting institutions in recruiting academic and administrative leaders.

His expertise encompasses leadership development, board development for higher education and nonprofit organizations, executive searches, coaching, team building, scenario planning, strategic planning, institutional advancement, and civic engagement. Throughout his career, Dr. Carter has been actively involved in board development, community engagement strategies, and executive searches across the United States and South Africa.

Dr. Carter served as President of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure, he transformed JCSU into Charlotte’s leading independent new urban university and a key institution in the city’s Northwest Corridor. His leadership helped position the university as a vital community anchor.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Carter held several notable positions, including Dean of Students at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa (1991-1997), where he contributed to the university’s transformation during South Africa’s post-apartheid era. He also served as Provost at Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina, where he developed with the faculty new academic programs and fostered partnerships with academic affairs, community agencies, and foundations to address local needs.

Recognized for his expertise in board process improvements and assessment, Dr. Carter has facilitated development retreats for numerous institutions, including California Western School of Law, Mount Mercy University, Bennett College, and others. His efforts have consistently aimed at enhancing board effectiveness and institutional governance. Dr. Carter began his higher education career at Boston University, where he held roles such as Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Dean of Students, and adjunct Associate Professor of Philosophy. He was the first Black senior administrators at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he held positions including Health Services Development Unit Senior Administrator, Deputy Registrar, and Dean of Students.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and philosophy from Morehouse College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He further obtained a Master of Theology and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from Boston University.

Ronald Carter is a native of High Point, North Carolina. He has two adult children: River Tumelo Rosalind, residing in Reading, England, and Cory Demetrius Carter, based in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Carter is also an ordained minister affiliated with the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts.