Esteemed faculty member, Sue Carter, recently was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame for her trailblazing career as a female broadcaster and lifelong commitment to education and paving the way for women.
“It is a huge honor,” said Carter, a Professor in MSU’s School of Journalism. “It means I have been invited to be included in a pantheon of women who have changed the lives of others, and I am thankful.”
The Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame inducts a select group of women each year based on several criteria including their service and commitment to the advancement of women and the qualities that make them role models to others.
“We are very proud of Sue’s determination and accomplishments in her earnest and admirable pursuits,” said Lucinda Davenport, Director of MSU’s School of Journalism. “She uses her determination to help others in our society and is an accomplished teacher who leads by example. She is a great role model for students, colleagues and others, which fits squarely into the spirit of mission of the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.”
Carter joined the MSU School of Journalism faculty in 1991 after teaching journalism at Wayne State University in Detroit and a 17-year career as a news broadcaster and talk show host at radio and television stations in Michigan, Connecticut and Ontario, Canada.
A Trailblazer
She began her trailblazing career as a radio broadcaster at a time when men dominated the field. She was the first female on the news staff at WVIC/Lansing and WXYZ-AM/Detroit. She rose quickly through the ranks to take several leadership positions, including becoming the first female News Director at WAVZ/New Haven and WABX/Detroit.
“Be willing to challenge and inquire,” Carter said. “Be willing to lead others in new ways, don’t feel the necessity to conform.”
Among her many accolades, Carter is a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, has three Emmy Awards and was named UPI Sports Broadcaster of the Year in 1990 for reporting on the Detroit Free Press International Marathon while running it.
As a Professor of Journalism at MSU, each summer Carter helps lead the Mass Media study abroad program that travels to the United Kingdom. She also serves as MSU’s Faculty Athletic Representative.
Other positions she has held include Secretary of the MSU Board of Trustees, Executive Assistant to MSU Presidents Peter McPherson and Lou Anna Simon, and Press Secretary to Michigan Governor James Blanchard.
To the Top of the World and Beyond
Beyond her success in journalism and academia, Carter has continuously pushed herself into new fields and opportunities.
A member of the National Ski Patrol for more than 20 years, Cater helped organize and lead the first all-women ski expedition to the North Pole in 2001, an experience she later documented in her book, “Ordinary Women: An Artic Adventure.” Carter’s team was met at the North Pole by a group from NASA and together they conducted the first student-directed live webcast from the top of the world.
Carter also is a licensed pilot and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. In 2002, she carried the Olympic Torch in the Olympic Torch Relay leading to the Salt Lake City Winter Games.
Carter has a B.A. in Humanities from MSU and earned an M.A. in History and Juris Doctorate, both from Wayne State University. She also is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church with a Master of Divinity from The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church of New York and a Doctor of Ministry from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Hall of Fame Induction
She was nominated for the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame honor by 2014 inductee Jeanne Findlater, who also worked in broadcasting in Detroit during the same time as Carter.
Carter accepted her award, along with four other contemporary nominees and five historical nominees, during the awards dinner and induction ceremony on Oct. 29 at the Kellogg Center on MSU’s campus.
The mission of the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame is to inspire and engage adults and children by celebrating Michigan women’s history, promoting educational opportunities, and honoring the accomplishments of Michigan women.
For more information, see the Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame website.
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