June 23, 2008
Michelle Marie Dunn Carter
Fisk University, B.A. '73
School of Graduate Studies, '89, organizational behavior
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
Current home: Antioch, Tennessee
Michelle Marie "Mickee" Dunn Carter is part of a legacy family that includes her parents, Lois and Sylvester (now deceased), sister Janice, brother S. Louis, and her aunt, Gloria Reeves Poe. Although she considered attending Vanderbilt University and Oberlin College, "the fact I grew up in a Fisk family and heard such culturally rich and affirming stories about it made me decide to be a part of this tradition," she says.
Her passion for reading and discussing literature led her to major in English literature. Not sure where it might lead her professionally, she felt it would be a good foundation for any career.
Just two months after her 17th birthday, she entered Fisk at the time of the social and political upheaval on college campuses during the late 60s and early 70s—the Civil Rights movement, feminist movement, students' rights, the Vietnam War, among other issues. "It was a volatile time requiring me to keep my focus on class work and make daily decisions based on my values about how I would—or would not—become involved in certain activities."
Among the activities she did involve herself were the theater program and an instrumental music ensemble where she played the clarinet. A highlight for her was taking a creative writing class with Arna Bontemps, a noted Harlem Renaissance writer and Fisk librarian. She received departmental honors in English literature upon graduation.
She began working in human resources and was employed at Hewlett-Packard in Houston for many years. In the 1990s, she decided that in order to increase her skills, business credibility, and improve her salary, she needed to obtain an advanced degree.
"I wanted a graduate degree that would build on my HR experience while at the same time, expose me to a more business way of thinking, without the financial component."
The organizational development program through the School of Graduate Studies and the Weatherhead School of Management at Case offered the most appropriate curriculum for her goals.
After she received her degree, she made another life-changing decision: to quit her full time corporate job and venture on her own. She is an independent training consultant and owner of Write On Time, which provides business writing programs, editing, and proofreading services to clients. "I knew I made the right decision when Hewlett Packard hired me back for several years as a consultant."
In addition, Ms. Carter teaches English as a Second Language at the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute and operates a second company, Bowdazzle Gift Wrapping, a professional gift-wrapping service and home party business.
She remains a member and public relations chair of CABLE, a women's business and civic organization, and a member of the American Society for Training and Development. She enjoys Latin dance and is secretary and board member of Tango Nashville, an Argentine Tango Dance Association.
Posted by: Heidi Cool June 23, 2008 12:36 PM
Category: Alumni
, Legacy
, School of Graduate Studies