[1]CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Campbellsville University trustees have unanimously selected Michael V. Carter, 44, as the 10th president of the Kentucky Baptist-related university, announced Larry Noe, chairman of the board, July 8. Carter will assume his duties Aug. 1.
Carter comes to Campbellsville University following 14 years of service at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., where he has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs since 1989, making him Carson-Newman’s second administrative officer.
Carter succeeds Kenneth W. Winters, who announced his plans last fall to retire following 11 years as president. Winters and his wife, Shirley, will reside in Murray, Ky.
“This is truly a great day for Campbellsville University,” said Noe, who served as chair of the university’s presidential search committee. “We knew from the beginning of our search process that finding someone to fill the shoes of Ken Winters as president was going to be an awesome task. But we genuinely believe that God has led us to that person. Michael Carter will take our institution to the next level.
“The trustees at Campbellsville are most impressed with Dr. Carter’s passion for Christian higher education, his love of students and his desire to build on the successes experienced by Campbellsville University these past 11 years. We know that the Carter presidency will launch Campbellsville into the forefront of Christian higher education,” Noe said.
Campbellsville University, founded in 1906, has an enrollment of 1,660 students.
At Carson-Newman, Carter had the primary responsibilities of overseeing the Tennessee Baptist institution’s academic program; its faculty; and all academic support services including the college’s library and academic computing area. Carter also was responsible for enrollment services and taught sociology.
He assisted in helping Carson-Newman set a series of 11 record enrollments, assisted in creative curriculum reform, led in the establishment of 12 new academic programs (five graduate and seven undergraduate) during the past six years and assisted in securing foundation support for several programs.
In addition, Carter led and assisted with numerous international study programs and agreements with international universities, assisted in providing a series of faculty development opportunities, led in the academic reorganization process and in the technological development of the campus.
Before being promoted to his current position, Carter served as associate dean and chair of the department of sociology (1988-89) and chair of the department of sociology and human services (1985-88).
Prior to his tenure at Carson-Newman College, Carter was the director of Christian ministries and lecturer in sociology at Judson College in Elgin, Ill., and was chair of the department of sociology and anthropology at Warner Southern College in Lake Wales, Fla.
Before entering the field of higher education, Carter served as associate pastor at the Grove City (Ohio) Baptist Church (1983-84) and pastor at the Big Hurricane (W.Va.) Baptist Church (1977-81).
Carter, a native of Huntington, W.Va., holds a Ph.D. from Ohio State University (1984) and the master of arts and bachelor of arts degrees from Marshall University (1979; 1976).
Carter holds numerous awards and recognitions among which include two terms on the board of directors for the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools (1997-99) and chair of the Appalachian College Association’s Deans Conference (1995-96).
Carter and his wife, Debra Ann, are the parents of three children, Eric, 23; Alicia, 17; and Wesley, 9.
The Carters are members of the First Baptist Church in Jefferson City where he has served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and has been active with the church’s stewardship committee, strategic planning committee, college council and youth program.
In Jefferson City, Carter has maintained active civic involvement having served on the long-range planning committee for the Jefferson Memorial Hospital, the board for Appalachian Outreach (a poverty ministry of Carson-Newman College) and the industrial relations board of directors for Jefferson County.