OxStars: Dr. Ken Carter

Tarrell Mitchell •

Dr. Ken Carter 87Ox 89C, has made a career out of turning human curiosity into connection. Whether on campus or in the classroom, his influence and journey at Oxford College have left a lasting mark on generations of students.

As an Oxford College alum, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology, and the founder of Emory’s Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement, he has infused his passion for understanding human behavior into a mission that now touches nearly every part of campus life. Through roles that may not always make headlines, Carter has become one of Oxford’s most influential voices, creating space for bold ideas, quenching public curiosity, and bridging the gap between academia and the world beyond it. 

“Oxford College is a great place for beginnings,” says Carter. It’s a place where students can come and be challenged to reach new heights. Oxford even encouraged Carter to step outside his comfort zone, prompting him to think more deeply, speak more confidently, and realize he was capable of more than he had ever imagined.

When Carter first arrived at Oxford College more than 30 years ago, he was a first-generation college student unsure of the road ahead of him. He remembers the long drive from Columbia, South Carolina, in his white Chevy Chevette, the nervous excitement of meeting his roommate for the first time, starting classes, and settling into Bonnell Hall—now part of the JRC.

“I really didn't know what to expect, but Oxford gave me exactly what I needed.”

Dr. Ken Carter 87Ox 89C
Those early days, full of uncertainty and possibility, would quietly set the stage for a lifelong connection to the campus that would not only shape who he was but also enable him to help shape it in the future. 

Nowhere is that full-circle journey more vivid than in the classroom. Despite wearing many hats on campus, Carter says it’s his deep curiosity about people that continues to draw him most to teaching psychology. “I'm really curious about how people see the world and how people see themselves,” he says. “I want to help them understand themselves and others better.”

His desire to connect and to see the world through someone else’s eyes is more than a teaching philosophy; it’s the thread that ties together every role he plays, from writing textbooks to leading initiatives that engage the broader public. Even as he writes, he partners with students to make sure the material resonates with them. “Rather than teaching to the younger version of myself, I really try to teach to who my students are today.”

Curiosity finds a home at the annual Oxford IDEAS Festival, which Carter conceived as the founding director of Emory’s Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement. The festival provides a space where curiosity is not only welcomed but also celebrated.
“The thing that sort of inspired me to start the IDEAS Festival was that I felt like there was a growing disconnect between what the public thought that universities did and what universities do,” he explains. “I wanted to find a way to highlight and really quench the thirst that everybody has in terms of their curiosity about the world, with the way that we help quench that curiosity as scholars.” The festival brings together students, faculty, and the broader public for conversations that spark new ways of thinking, breaking down the walls that can sometimes separate academic knowledge from everyday life. It’s also a reflection of how Carter adapts to the needs of today’s students, offering them not just information, but space to explore ideas that feel relevant, exciting, and real.

As the festival continues to grow, Carter hopes it will evolve into a signature event for the university. Instead of seeking recognition for the festival, he finds fulfillment in others carrying forward his ideas without linking them back to him. His goal is for the IDEAS Festival to belong to the community, not just be a part of his résumé. He says, “If people love the IDEAS Festival, that’s enough. It doesn’t need to be connected to me.” What he hopes will stay with students and colleagues isn’t a list of accomplishments; it’s the memory of someone who listened, who noticed, and who showed up for them with kindness when it mattered most.

That same quiet care also shapes how Carter views success, not just for himself, but for the many students he has spent his career supporting. The curiosity and fresh perspectives of Oxford students are what have kept Carter inspired throughout his career. Reflecting on the years behind him and the students still ahead, he encourages them to stay open to conversations, to others’ experiences, and to the inevitability of failure. “I've had lots of different things that I've tried that didn't work out,” He says, “People might look at my trajectory and see a series of accomplishments. What they might not see are the things I tried to accomplish that didn't work out.” For Carter, failure isn’t something to avoid; it’s part of what shapes us, just like the questions we ask and the people we choose to learn from.

After decades of nurturing ideas, igniting curiosity, and quietly shaping a more connected academic community, Carter’s impact at Oxford lives not just in programs or festivals but within the students and the people who cross paths with him each and every day.

“I think the thing that makes Oxford unique is the people, and in fact, not just the people now, but the people who have been at Oxford previously really create the experience that we have. The caring, supportive community is the thing that has transcended the 30 years that I've been here.”

Dr. Ken Carter 87Ox 89C

Oxford has evolved over the years, and so has Carter. “I’ve been able to see Oxford change over the decades. I can see myself change as well,” he reflects. “And so, it’s nice to be able to look back and see that the core mission remains the same.”

For Carter, Oxford is more than a place of learning. “It’s been my home for 30 years.” He says. Oxford College is a community built on curiosity, open doors, and the quiet power of people like Dr. Ken Carter who choose to care.