Rona Carter

Rona Carter is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Associate Professor in Social Work at the University of Michigan. She holds affiliations with the African Studies Center, Education and Psychology, and the GFP Faculty Affiliate program. Her research focuses on the intersection of pubertal development, racial identity, and systemic oppression, particularly for Black girls. She employs mixed methods to study how biological transitions interact with social and cultural contexts. Dr. Carter earned her PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from Florida International University.

Her research examines how off-time puberty (early/late development) interacts with ethnic-racial identity, discrimination, and interpersonal relationships to influence mental health and academic outcomes. She emphasizes Black Feminist and Womanist theories to address structural inequities like racism and adultification. Key areas include peer exclusion, school racial composition, and teacher expectations.

Her recent work analyzes puberty education materials, transnationally adopted Korean American adolescents’ experiences, and the role of racial socialization in families. Dr. Carter’s articles span developmental psychology, racial identity, and intersectional frameworks. She is affiliated with the Carter Lab and teaches courses on Detroit initiatives and professional education.