She received a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Michigan in 2010 and also holds an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, where she concentrated in psychology and art theory and practice. Prior to joining the faculty, Carter completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in anthropology at Brown (ACLS New Faculty Fellow, 2011-2013), and was a lecturer in the department of Anthropology and Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University (2009-2011). Her recently published work appears in The Journal of Southern Religion and in City & Society.