Luther F. Carter

Luther F. "Fred" Carter (born May 30, 1950) is an American university president and a former senior governmental official. He is the 4th President of Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. He assumed office in 1999.^[1][2] He is the longest-serving president at Francis Marion University and the longest-serving current president of any college in South Carolina.^[3]

Carter was raised in Sanford, Florida. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in political science at the University of Central Florida in 1972 and earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.^[4] While at UCF he joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He went on to earn a master's degree in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of South Carolina.^[5] Carter spent three years as an active duty Marine officer and 26 years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.^[6] He retired in 2001 with the rank of colonel.

After receiving the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Central Florida in 1972, he earned both a master's degree in Public Administration (MPA) in 1976 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science in 1979 from the University of South Carolina.^[7] He began his academic teaching career as an assistant professor and director of internship at Western Kentucky University from 1979 to 1980.^[8]

He was an assistant professor and director of masters of public policy program, Department of Public Service Administration at the University of Central Florida from 1980 to 1981; served as the director of the Institute of Public Affairs and Policy Studies, MPA Director and associate professor of political science at the College of Charleston from 1981 to 1985; then served as the chair of the Department of Political Science at the College of Charleston from 1985 to 1987.^[9]

Carter was named president of Francis Marion University in 1999. He has authored or co-authored six books and dozens of articles and reviews in his field.^[10]

Carter served as the county administrator for Bamberg County, South Carolina in 1977. Following a distinguished 10-year career in academics, Carter was selected as the senior executive assistant to South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell, serving as a principal policy advisor.

From 1991 to 1999, Carter served as executive director of the South Carolina Budget Control Board (now the Department of Administration).^[11] Carter served as chief of staff to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford in 2003.^[12]

Carter has guided the development of new academic programs in nursing, engineering, health sciences, and more including the addition of doctoral programs in Nursing^[13], Occupational Therapy, and Psychology^[14]. He has also presided over the construction of numerous new buildings including the award-winning FMU Performing Arts Center^[15], Luther F. Carter Center for Health Sciences^[16], the Hugh and Jean Leatherman Medical Education Complex^[17], the FMU Freshwater Ecology Complex, and the School of Business/School of Education Building^[18]. Two major building projects, the Forestry and Environmental Sciences Building^[19] and the C. Edward Floyd Medical Building, are currently under construction. He was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa as a faculty/staff initiate in 2009. In August 2018, FMU's Board of Trustees extended Carter's contract through 2029.^[20]

Carter has been appointed to numerous public and private boards, committees and task forces. Highlights include service on the Governor's Medical Graduate Education Council (2015–present; Chairman)^[21] and on the HopeHealth Board of Directors (2024 - present; Secretary 2026 - present)^[22]

He and his wife have two sons, Luke and Bryan.

• South Carolina Governor's Order of the Palmetto (1991)^[23]
• Recipient, Doctor of Humane Letters Degree, College of Charleston (1992)^[24]
• American Association of University Professors' Ralph S. Brown Award (2002)^[25]
• University of Central Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award (1999)^[26]
• Recipient, Doctor of Human Letters Degree, The Citadel (2000)^[27]
• South Carolina Humanities Council's Governor's Award in the Humanities (2004)^[28]
• Pee Dee Boys and Girls Clubs Annual Champion of Youth Award (2005)^[29]
• South Carolina Governor's Order of the Palmetto (1991)^[23]
• University of South Carolina Medical College's Friend of the Medical School Award (2018)^[30]
• Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Grand Patron Award (2021)^[31]
• South Carolina Conference of the American Associations of University Professor' Life Achievement Award in Shared Governance (2022)^[32]
• 50 Most Influential People for the Pee Dee Region, B2B: Pee Dee Business (2025)^[33]