American Foundation of The University of the West Indies honors CCNY educator Hazel Carter

Dr. Hazel M. Carter, an expert in education reform pipeline programs in The City College of New York’s School of Education, is the 2023 winner of the Pelican Award presented by the American Foundation of The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) and The University of the West Indies Alumni Association New York chapter. The honor recognizes distinguished UWI alumni who have achieved unprecedented success in their chosen field or industry, operate with integrity, and serve as  exemplary role models to The UWI community globally, particularly to its current students.

An AFUWI board member, Carter will receive the honor on April 20, at the foundation’s 26th annual “The Legacy Continues” awards gala in  Manhattan. The event is AFUWI’s primary fundraiser to support its scholarship fund for the best and brightest young minds in the Caribbean facing financial hurdles to higher education.  ,

“This year is historic, as we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of The University of the West Indies,” said Ann-Marie Grant, executive director of AFUWI.  

“The UWI community proudly stands as an example of the resilience and industry of the people of the Caribbean region. It has fostered and nurtured the many outstanding accomplishments of a minute number (0.36%) of the world’s population, which has had an enormous global impact that belies the region's size on the world stage,” Grant added. “But, more importantly, The UWI reflects the hope and aspirations of Caribbean people, many of whom are descendants of indentureship and slavery, as they look to create an equitable and prosperous Caribbean society where its citizens can live, work, and raise their families.”

About Hazel Carter
Associate Professor and program director, educational leadership, in CCNY’s School of Education (SOE), Carter’s expertise includes education reform pipeline programs, program design, evaluation and grant writing. She is currently the Principal Investigator for City College’s Urban Scholars Program. As a director of several pipeline programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Ford Foundation, Kellogg Foundation and Lumina Foundation, she has successfully prepared middle and high school students for success in post-secondary education and helped increase the number of minorities in teaching. Her books, “Creating Effective Community Partnerships: A Guide for School Leaders, and Leadership of After School,” and “Supplemental Education: Creating Seamless Pathways to Postsecondary Life,” encourage educators to embrace the community while focusing on the often overlooked and underutilized college and university partnerships. Carter prepares teachers to be school building leaders and school district leaders and has worked with the New York State Department of Education in reforming several teacher and leadership certification programs. Carter has been cited by the U.S. Congress for her work in community engagement, and recognized by CUNY as a recipient of major institutional grants for public service. Among her other honors are a community service award from the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance, North America, and the  Trinidad and Tobago Heritage award from the New York City Council. In addition to sitting on the AFUWI board, her other affiliations include: the UWI Alumni Association-NY chapter, New Alternatives for Children, Global Women’s Fund, the International Consortium of Caribbean Professionals, and the American Educational Research Association. After graduating from UWI, Carter earned an MS in non-profit management from the New School, and her PhD in higher education administration from NYU.

ABOUT AFUWI
The American Foundation for the University of the West Indies is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization, with a mission to raise funds in the United States to enhance higher education at the University of the West Indies. The UWI community comprises the 17 member countries of the English- speaking Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. AFUWI is a registered US charity and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of state and federal laws. In supporting UWI, AFUWI continues to enhance the University’s ability to play a pivotal role in preparing individuals for continued Caribbean and global thought leadership.

About the City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Emsi puts at $1.9 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. This year, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.