Prudence Carter

Prudence Carter is the Sarah and Joseph Jr. Dowling Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America (CSREA) at Brown University. Her research focuses on educational inequities, race, class, and gender dynamics, with global comparative studies in the U.S. and South Africa. She previously served as Dean of the Graduate School of Education at UC Berkeley (2016–2021).
Education: BA in Applied Mathematics and Economics (Brown University), MA, MPhil, and PhD in Sociology (Columbia University).

• Research Highlights: Author of award-winning books Keepin’ It Real (2005) and Stubborn Roots (2012), examining cultural and structural barriers to educational equity.
• Awards: Oliver Cromwell Cox Book Award, Berkeley Citation, Fellowships in multiple national academies.
• Affiliations: Board member of Nellie Mae and Spencer Foundations, Past President of the American Sociological Association.

Her work bridges sociology and education, emphasizing systemic solutions to inequality. Current research explores racial dynamics in schools and the sociocultural contexts shaping academic achievement.