Kenneth Carter

Dr. Kenneth Carter serves as the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford College, Emory University, a position he has held since joining the faculty in 1994. He teaches foundational courses in psychology alongside advanced topics in psychopathology and clinical psychopharmacology, while actively translating research for public audiences through media engagements and accessible publications.

Dr. Carter's educational background includes:

• Associate of Arts from Oxford College, Emory University (1987)
• Bachelor of Arts from Emory College, Emory University (1989)
• Master of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan (1990)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from the University of Michigan (1993)
• Master of Science in Psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University (2010)

His research centers on sensation-seeking behavior, psychopathology, and psychology education. Carter is internationally recognized for his work on thrill-seeking psychology, which directly informed Science North's traveling museum exhibit across North America. He consistently bridges academic rigor and public understanding through Psychology Today articles and appearances on NPR's Short Wave and NBC's Today show.

Recent publications reveal a sustained focus on extreme behaviors and educational psychology, including his 2023 celebrity stalking analysis, 2022 psychopathology textbook, and 2019 thrill-seeking monograph. His scholarship uniquely integrates clinical insights with public engagement, frequently translating complex concepts through media platforms and digital learning tools like his Coursera course.

No specific scientific awards are documented in the provided materials, though his Candler Professorship represents a significant institutional honor.

While individual student names aren't listed, Carter has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students throughout his career. His project leadership spans CDC research on adolescent risk behaviors, development of the Learn Psychology textbook series, and creation of the Science North museum exhibit—though detailed grant histories aren't specified.

Public scholarship defines Carter's impact beyond academia, particularly through Science North's sensation-seeking exhibit and frequent media contributions that extend psychological science to global audiences via television, radio, and digital platforms.