Dr. Luther F. Carter
Dr. Luther F. Carter has served as the president of Francis Marion University since 1999 and led the University during a period of exceptional growth and development. He has presided over the start of numerous academic initiatives, enhanced the fiscal stability of the University and its foundations, and expanded the prerogatives of shared governance in partnership with the University’s faculty.
Carter’s career has been devoted exclusively to public service, both within and outside of the academy. He served as the senior executive assistant to South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell, as the executive director of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, and as the chief of staff to Governor Mark Sanford. He has also served on the faculties of the College of Charleston, the University of Central Florida, and Western Kentucky University.
Presently, he chairs the South Carolina Council of University and College Presidents, the South Carolina Commission for International Cooperation and Agreements, and the Florence Downtown Development Corporation. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of MUSC Health – Florence Medical Center, the Board of Directors of the Northeastern Strategic Alliance, the Board of Directors of HopeHealth, the S.C. Behavioral Health Master Plan Committee, the Executive Committee of the South Carolina Research Authority, and the Council of State Representatives of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
He is the recipient of the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto, and honorary degrees from the College of Charleston, Lander University and the Citadel.
His career service has been recognized by the National Governors’ Association (Distinguished State Executive Award), the American Association of University Professors (Ralph Brown Award), the S.C. Chamber of Commerce (Public Servant of the Year Award), the International Federation of German-American Clubs (Lucius Clay Award), the S.C. Humanities Council (Governor’s Award in the Humanities), the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration (Donato Pugliese Award), and the S.C. Regional Council of Governments (Public Official of the Year Award).
Carter received his BA degree from the University of Central Florida and was the recipient of its distinguished alumnus award in 1999. He earned his MPA and PhD degrees from the University of South Carolina and was recognized by the University’s College of Arts and Sciences as its distinguished graduate alumnus in 2006. He has authored and co-authored numerous books, juried chapters, and articles.
Carter served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps and retired as a Colonel in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve.
He and his wife, Folly, have two children, Luke and Bryan, and three grandchildren, Max, Chloe, and Milly. Bryan is an international banker with HSBC based in London. Luke is an attorney with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd.
Folly Carter
Folly Carter is a native of South Carolina. She received her baccalaureate and master’s degrees in education from the University of South Carolina. After teaching business courses in secondary education for a number of years, she served in the administrations of Governor Carroll Campbell (communications office liaison), Governor David Beasley, and Governor Jim Hodges (director of infant mortality reduction programs).
As the first lady of FMU, she participates in numerous local and state organizations, including the Florence Symphony Guild, Wildwood Garden Club, Allegro Literacy Club and the South Carolina Arts Alliance. Dr. and Mrs. Carter have two children, Bryan and Luke. Bryan is an international banker residing in London, England. He and his wife, Adele, have three children, Max, Chole, and Millie. Luke is an attorney with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd.