Dr. Kenneth Carter is Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University and founding director of the Emory University Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement. He served as interim dean of Oxford College from 2022 to 2023.
A graduate of Oxford College and Emory University, Dr. Carter earned his MA and PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan. He subsequently completed an MS in psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and holds board certification as a clinical psychologist, giving him a rare dual grounding in clinical practice and pharmacological science.
He is the author of several textbooks, including Psychopathology: Understanding Psychological Disorders (Cambridge University Press) and the forthcoming Living Psychology (SAGE Publications). His most recent book, Buzz!: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies (Cambridge University Press), reflects his research interest in the psychology of thrill-seeking.
Dr. Carter is widely recognized for translating psychological science into accessible language. His work has appeared in Psychology Today and Women's Health, and he has been featured on CNN Tonight, NPR's Short Wave and All Things Considered, and NBC's Today show. He has delivered a TEDx talk on thrill-seekers and hosts Mind of a Motorhead, an NBC Sports web series exploring the personalities of motorsport athletes.