University of Evansville to Honor Zerah Priestly Carter '38, First African American GraduateRead full article…

Posted: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
By: University Communications

The University of Evansville (UE) will honor Zerah Priestly Carter '38 in a memorial bench dedication on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.

The dedication ceremony will take place on the northeast side of the Sesquicentennial Front Oval.

In partnership with the UE African American Alumni Association (UEAAA), the dedication recognizes Zerah Priestly Carter's role in shaping the University's history and expanding access to education.

In 1938, Mrs. Carter earned a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Education from then Evansville College, now the University of Evansville. Mrs. Carter went on to teach in Evansville's public schools, influencing generations of students through her commitment to education and service.

The memorial bench serves as a lasting, visible tribute to her legacy and the path she helped to create.

"Zerah Priestly Carter changed the course of this University with courage and conviction," said UE alumnus and Emeritus Trustee Dr. Michael D. Woodard '69. "At a time when doors were closed by segregation, she opened them for those who followed. This memorial bench ensures that her legacy is not only remembered, but experienced every day, and challenges us to continue expanding opportunity."

The ceremony will feature remarks by Shateka Bard-Woods M'11, president of the UE African American Alumni Association; Mrs. Carter's nephew, Timothy Womock; Dr. Michael D. Woodard '69; and formal dedication remarks by University President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz.

The bench is made possible through the generosity of the UE African American Alumni Association. The University community and the public are invited to attend.