Rayna J. Carter’s ambition can be felt in every instance of her work. Through academia and community outreach, she helps others find their place at the University of Georgia.
On Jan. 17, Carter received the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award at the 21st Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast. The award is given to individuals in the UGA and Athens-Clarke County communities who are working to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality and justice a reality.
Carter is a third-year student majoring in psychology, sociology and women’s studies. As the daughter of two UGA employees, Carter grew up around campus. While she was originally hesitant to attend the university, she now can’t envision herself anywhere else.
“I kind of hung out around UGA, especially during the summer when I was younger,” she said. “So, I was super familiar with UGA, and really reluctant about applying.”
The support and welcome that she felt in the months before the start of her first semester cemented her decision to attend. Chances to connect to the university’s resources such as the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities’ (CURO) symposium helped Carter see how much was offered at the university and how she could thrive.
“I got to a point in my whole college decision journey where I thought, ‘If everyone is supporting me like this while I am not dialed into their school, how much would they support me if I went there?’” she said.
Carter began her undergraduate studies as a CURO honors scholar before becoming a Midterm Foundation Fellow at the start of the spring 2024 semester. With Julie Stanton, Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ cellular biology department, she conducts research on matters like life science student metacognition, a subject that analyzes the ways college students think about and approach learning.
She is also part of organizations like the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a group that offers support to minority students in STEM fields, and the Eta Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In her sorority, she serves as a co-chair of the Advocating for Social Justice Committee.
Her deep appreciation for learning has heavily impacted her time at UGA with much of her work striving to make academia accessible to various audiences.
“A lot of what I do is to ensure the social accessibility of research,” Carter said. “There are a lot of different types of knowledge, and people should be able to access that knowledge, so I’m really passionate about breaking down barriers to education.”
Rayna Carter (right) at the UGA Freedom Breakfast in 2012. (Submitted photo)
Winning this award is a full circle moment for Carter. Her father worked in the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and the Freedom Breakfast has always been an important event for that office. Every year, her birthday occurs near the date of the breakfast.
“Part of my birthday preparation celebration was always going to the Freedom Breakfast because he was working in the office,” Carter said. “I’ve been in the room for so long, but I never imagined myself being on the stage to receive an award.”
Carter has worked with her high school in Loganville and volunteered with the UGA admissions office to help others see in the university what she saw years ago. The work she did led her to become an orientation leader in 2024, spending a summer and beyond helping thousands of incoming first-year and transfer students find their place on campus.
“I know from orientation that, for parents of color, seeing me is very comforting,” Carter said. “Being able to talk with them and knowing that they can leave the room feeling a little bit more calm and confident about the journey that their student is about to go on is fulfilling.”
Rayna Carter greets freshmen students and parents at orientation check in at Tate Grand Hall. (Photo by Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
While the intent to give back to her community certainly drives Carter, so does the support she’s received from her family. She looks back at the sacrifices and hard work from her mother and grandmother and hopes to build on their experiences.
“My grandma supported my mom so much, so my mom is who she is because of her,” Carter said. “And my mom has given so much to me. In everything I do, I just want to be able to give back and continue their work.”
