Warrick L. Carter facts for kids

Warrick L. Carter was an important American music educator and leader. He was also the president of Columbia College Chicago. He was born on May 6, 1942, and passed away on July 15, 2017.

Early Life and Music

Warrick Livingston Carter was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. Music was a big part of his family. His father started a choir that Warrick and his brothers sang in. His mother also taught piano lessons at their home.

His Education Journey

Warrick Carter studied music at college. He earned his first degree from Tennessee State University. Later, he went to Michigan State University. There, he earned a master's degree and then a PhD in music education. A PhD is a very high degree that shows you are an expert in your field.

Carter's Career Highlights

Warrick Carter had many important jobs in music and education.

• In 1964, he taught instrumental music and led the band at Alton Park Junior High.
• From 1966 to 1971, he was an assistant professor of music at the University of Maryland and Michigan State University.
• At Governors State University, he held several leadership roles from 1971 to 1984. He was a coordinator for music and fine arts, and later became the chairman of the fine and performing arts division.
• From 1984 to 1996, he worked at Berklee College of Music. He became the Dean of Faculty and later the Provost. At Berklee, he helped create exchange programs with schools in many countries. These included France, Spain, Italy, Japan, and Germany.

Leading Entertainment at Disney

From 1996 to 2000, Carter worked for Walt Disney Entertainment. He was the director of entertainment arts. In this role, he helped create programs for college students. These programs offered internships and chances to perform at Disney parks. He was in charge of a large budget to make these programs happen.

President of Columbia College Chicago

Carter became the president of Columbia College Chicago in 2000. He was the first African-American president of the college. During his time as president, Columbia College grew a lot.

• The college became the biggest non-government property owner in its area.
• The college built its first new building in its history.
• A big fundraising effort started, aiming to raise $100 million.
• The number of students increased by 25%, reaching a high of 12,500.

After 2008, the number of students started to go down. In 2012, the college faced budget challenges. Carter worked to find solutions for these issues. He looked at different programs to see how they could best serve students. For example, he considered changes to the cinema studies program. After careful thought, he decided to keep the program.

He also looked at how groups like the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Center for Black Music Research fit into the college. He wanted to make sure that student tuition money was used in ways that directly helped students. He worked to connect these groups more closely with the college's teaching programs.

Carter retired in 2013, after many years of leadership.

Awards and Recognition

Warrick Carter received several important awards for his work.

• In 1996, he was honored by the International Jazz Educators Hall of Fame.
• In 1997, he received the National Black Music Caucus Achievement Award.