About me

I’m Qunishia Carter, an educational psychologist, researcher, and advocate passionate about equity, identity, and access in education. My work centers the stories and strength of Black women in higher education. I explore how identity evolves throughout their academic journey and how they build and rely on counter-spaces—intentional, affirming environments created in response to marginalization—to navigate and thrive within systems not designed with them in mind. I also study how emerging adult students from historically marginalized communities pursue their career aspirations after K–12.

In 2025, I earned my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Ball State University. My path to that degree wasn’t linear—and that’s part of why I do this work. I’m deeply committed to helping others navigate their own journeys, especially when the odds are stacked against them from the start.

I believe all students deserve equal opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed—and that means researching the hard truths, advocating for change, and showing up for students in meaningful ways.

When I’m not teaching or writing, you can find me diving into new cultures through travel, getting lost in a good book, or playing oldest sibling to five incredible younger siblings. I’m also the oldest of six, an Aquarius through and through, and someone who sees possibility where others see roadblocks.

“In a racially inequitable system, neutrality is not possible. Silence is an act of collusion.”
— Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum