Paul D. Carter papers, 1937-1994

Long-time, loyal and effective administrator at Columbia. Unofficially, he served as the University's manager, mediator and ambassador for 30 years.

A 1956 graduate of Hamilton, Carter, a former Rhodes Scholar, was awarded a master's degree by Oxford. He later did graduate work in philosophy at Minnesota. He joined Columbia in 1962 as assistant provost and was associate provost and acting director of the budget from 1965 to 1967. He became vice provost in 1967 and provost in March, 1969, resigning in June, 1969, to become vice president and provost of his alma mater, Hamilton.

Carter returned to Columbia in 1971 as Executive Vice President for Administration, a new position created by President William J. McGill. He oversaw all administrative and financial services on campus. He presided over the most extensive building and restoration program since the University moved to Morningside Heights. Under his leadership, the University built new classrooms, laboratories, libraries and athletic facilities; pursued energy savings measures; introduced a program to recycle office waste paper; renovated student residence halls; reformulated health services, and remodeled Faculty House. He was a member of the Morningside Area Alliance board and chair of its public safety committee. He served as EVP of Administration for 14 years, until 1985, when the position was eliminated. Carter was then appointed Senior Adviser to the President, a position he held for 9 years, under both Presidents Michael I. Sovern and George Rupp. Carter retired in September 1994.