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HIGH POINT — Ronald Lee Carter, one of High Point’s own, will take the reins
as president of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte on Tuesday.

"I never thought I would be working at home in North Carolina," Carter said.
"I’m delighted to be here."

Carter, 59, began his career at Boston University at the Martin Luther King
Jr. Center and later became the school’s youngest dean of students.

Most recently, he served as provost and dean of faculty at Coker College in
Hartsville, S.C.

He is moving back to his home state with his 15-year-old daughter, Tumi.

"Being raised in High Point put me on the road to where I am today," Carter
said. "The community was extremely supportive and encouraging."

The High Point native still remembers those who influenced him the most.
There was Minnetta Robinson and her father, C.W. Robinson — High Point’s first
black Realtor in 1930 — who lived on Downing Street, which used to be called
Normal Street.

And there was Robert Brown, who "took me under his wings at Washington Park,"
Carter said. "He was a youth advisor there. He was there for me."

Brown still mentors Carter today.

There were also the pastors at Saint Mark Baptist Church.

And then there was Eva Stewart, Carter’s high school English teacher.

"She made a difference in my life," he said.

Carter said his life has been blessed with many experiences — at High Point
and through his education and career.

"It’s nice to see someone like Ronald Lee to come out of government housing
and be successful," said Glenn Chavis, a Guilford Record columnist who grew up
across the street from the Carter family. Johnson C. Smith University is Chavis’
alma mater.

After graduating from William Penn High School, Carter continued his
education at Morehouse College in Atlanta, receiving a bachelor’s degree in
sociology and philosophy.

He then received a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate in philosophy
of religion from Boston University.

When visiting with Carter at Boston University years ago, Chavis said, "I
could tell then, one day (Carter) was really going to be up top in terms of
education."

Carter was also appointed a Merrill Scholar, which allowed him to study
abroad at Robert College in Istanbul, Turkey.

"I came alive to diversity," he said.

Through his career, Carter found himself serving as director of health
services at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa,
before Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 and the abolition of
apartheid.

He soon became the school’s dean of students and one of the first black
administrators at the traditionally white institution. He was in Africa from
1987 to 1997.

"It was a challenging experience, but I would do it all over again if I had
to," Carter said. He said there were "dark experiences I had to go through, but
nevertheless, I learned a lot. I got to meet a lot of people and great
minds."

Carter remembers seeing students abused by security and police. Once, when
invading the university, police ran at students with whips.

During the
raid, Carter went around the campus to check on students’ safety.

"I saw one student near a third-floor window, and a police security
(official) pushed him out of the window, and he landed in front of me," he
said.

The student survived but had severe head injuries. Carter and others rushed
him to the hospital.

"Seeing these experiences (showed) the harsh reality of what we can do at our
worst if we don’t respect life," Carter said.

While in Africa, Carter still found the time to visit family in High Point
each year.

Carter’s mother and one of his sisters live here, as do an aunt and
cousins.

"He always had goals and worked hard to achieve them," said sister Betty Ann
Jefferies. "We are very proud of him. We all are. I wish my best for him."

Jefferies said Carter’s mother, Lady Carter, is also proud of him and hopes
he takes this opportunity and runs with it.

"I knew he would be something great, mainly because he was so smart and
inquisitive," cousin Letitia Johnson said. "He was a leader from early
childhood."

Johnson said Carter was always an A student in high school and has always
been an achiever focused on his goals.

He also has shown an interest in assisting young people, she said, so serving
as president of Johnson C. Smith University is a good fit.

Johnson said Carter mentored her granddaughter, Erika Salter, a rising junior
at N.C. A&T who wants to attend law school.

At the last family
holiday dinner, Carter "sat down and talked to her about her plans and how to
get where she’s going," Johnson recalled.

"I know that’s a family member, but I think he’s like that with anyone who
needs it," she said. "He wanted to make sure she was focused on where she should
be going."

"I really hope young people will take advantage of the opportunities" in High
Point, Carter said.

Those include educational opportunities, the strong
sense of community — and the viewpoint that anyone can be great.

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com