University of Evansville to Honor Zerah Priestly Carter '38, First African American Graduate
Evansville, Ind. (04/15/2026) — 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.
The University of Evansville is a private, comprehensive university with a solid foundation in the arts and sciences and professional schools in business, engineering, education, and health sciences. Established in 1854, UE is recognized across the globe for its rich tradition of innovative, academic excellence and dynamic campus community of #Changemakers.
Home of the Purple Aces, UE is located in the southwestern region of Indiana and offers over 75 majors, 17 Division I sports, and a unique study abroad experience at Harlaxton, the University's very own Victorian manor located in the countryside of England. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.
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