Catherine W. Carter

Dr. Catherine Carter is a Professor in the English Department at Western Carolina University's College of Arts and Sciences, specializing in poetry, English education, and 20th-century American literature. She teaches courses in poetry writing, English education methodologies, and grammar instruction.

An accomplished poet, Carter has published multiple collections including Larvae of the Nearest Stars, The Swamp Monster at Home, and the award-winning By Stone and Needle (winner of the 2025 L.E. Phillabaum Poetry Award). Her work appears in prestigious journals such as Poetry, Ploughshares, and Best American Poetry.

Her research bridges academic and creative domains, with scholarly interests in grammar pedagogy and forgotten 20th-century authors like Kathleen Thompson Norris. Carter also maintains active outreach, offering poetry workshops and classroom visits to make poetry accessible to younger audiences.