FACE-TO-FACE WITH OUR FACULTY
If Mike Carter, our director of College Counseling, is not in his office helping
students and their families through the college process, he is definitely going to be outside. He LOVES the outdoors! Hiking, hunting, gardening, fishing, bird watching, coaching, or swimming at the beach—anything outside makes him happy. He even brings the great outdoors into his office, which is adorned with a collection of waterfowl decoys and duck prints. He is an active volunteer for wetlands conservation and a member of Ducks Unlimited, an organization that conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. He has served as the chairman of the Alexandria Chapter and is a member of the Virginia DU State Council. Mike's favorite thing in the world is to spend time with his family; his wife, two daughters, and many extended relatives. For him, nothing beats throwing the lacrosse ball with daughter Caroline, or taking long nature walks with daughter Greta and their Tibetan Terrier, Rudy, who is “too cute for his own good.” Nearly 31 years ago Mike married his high school sweetheart and prom date, Kate. She is an opera singer and voice teacher so there is always classical music and Broadway show tunes playing in their house, except for Friday nights when the Carters have “dance parties” to current pop and 80s rock. On the way to school Mike listens to country, but on the way home the dial turns to classic rock. Recent concerts include; Blue Oyster Cult, Steven Tyler, a Johnny Cash tribute band and 5 Seconds of Summer with his daughters. Mike is a U.S. Army veteran, a teacher, and a dedicated college counselor extraordinaire. Last summer he received the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counselors' Richard L. Apperson Award, the association's highest award for extraordinary service to students and to the college counseling profession. Mike has held many positions within PCACAC, including president and too many others to name. He has also servedon two national committees for the National Association of College Admission Counselors. He feels fortunate to get to know our students as they prepare for the next step in their educational journeys and finds watching them pursue their passions, whether it be in athletics, music, theater, robotics or service, to be truly motivating.
What is the one thing in the world you would fix if you could wave a magic wand? Socio-economic disparities and systemic racism. It's too big of an issue to fix in just one area, because there is a snowball effect that bleeds into other areas. Therefore, I would take a magic wand and Boom! Do away with those issues. What is the best piece of advice you've ever gotten? When in doubt, show up. Be present. Sometimes in life just being there is the most important thing. Brag about something. I get to work with two of the best professionals and people ever – Associate Directors of College Counseling TIm Doyle and Libby Weith. They absolutely make it a pleasure to come to work each day! Working with them is one of the greatest honors I have ever had. What makes you feel like a kid again? Snow days!!! What is one of your favorite things to do at school? One of my favorite things to do at school is decorating the Christmas tree in the College Office with all of the ornaments from the different colleges we have visited and to which we have sent our students. What helps you persevere when you feel like giving up? Several people in my life have had major health issues. Watching them handle extreme situations and seemingly insurmountable physical and emotional challenges with grace and patience is incredibly inspiring. It helps put life into perspective and allows me to keep going.
Dr. Michael Carter 38 | St. Stephen's Stephen’s and St. Agnes School