Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) is pleased to announce that Carolyn Carter will be joining the University as Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Communications.  Carter was the Chief Development Officer at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), one of the largest urban community colleges in Michigan, it is a multi-campus district with six campus locations and specialty campuses serving nearly 70,000 students annually across 36 cities and townships. 

“We are excited to have Carter join our leadership team.  She complements our strong re-imagining culture. We believe her impressive reputation in higher education, fundraising, philanthropy, commitment to HBCUs, and achieving results make her the right choice to lead institutional advancement, marketing, and Communication, ” said Christine Johnson McPhail, President of Saint Augustine’s University.  

Carter has over two decades of experience in higher education. A native Detroiter with deep roots as a community-minded servant-leader and an advocate for youth empowerment and education.  Carter said, “I am excited to join the Saint Augustine’s University family.  I welcome the opportunity to lead the office of Institutional Advancement to support SAU’s historical mission, its continued success, and to share the phenomenal historical story and transformational impact on students, higher education, and society.”  

Carter suggested that she understands the value of education, fundraising, and donor support because her journey in higher education began as a college student who received scholarships and grants. 

Carter reported that she looks forward to working with Saint Augustine’s University’s internal and external stakeholders to collaborate on fundraising campaigns, build a philanthropy and community engagement culture, student scholarships, donor cultivation, and alumni engagement.  

Regarding the appointment of Carolyn Carter, Saint Augustine’s University’s President, Christine Johnson McPhail further stated, “Carolyn’s background and training make her the ideal person to lead Saint Augustine’s University’s advancement efforts to get ahead of the fundraising curve, ensuring that Saint Augustine’s advancement strategies are positioned to attract external funding to support now and in the future.” 

In addition to fundraising, Carter has a passion for historical research; she is a professional genealogist who encourages storytelling to learn about the ancestors’ lives. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and an alumnus of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In addition, she received a Merit Award from the National Genealogical Society.  

“I am very excited to join the Saint Augustine’s University leadership team. I believe in Saint Augustine’s vision and mission, the potential for growth, and the university’s value to the city of Raleigh and throughout the nation. I also believe that the university has the potential to be a premier globally competitive university, given President McPhail’s passionate leadership; I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to build upon the rich legacy of the university,” said Carter. 

Carter received her doctoral degree in Education from Kansas State University in Community College Leadership and holds a Master of Arts in History from American Public University System and a Baccalaureate degree in Instructional Design from Ashford University. Carter enhanced her fundraising skills through studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.