Kayton Carter
Ed.D. Student-CANDEL Cohort 14
Kayton Carter is a seasoned higher education leader and equity advocate with over 25 years of experience in k-12, student support services, college access, and academic advising. He currently serves as Executive Director of Academic Advising Enrichment at UC Davis, where he leads campuswide efforts to professionalize advising, strengthen retention, promote equity-centered student success, and improve undergraduate graduations
Kayton is the founding director of both the African American Strategic Retention Initiative and the Center for African Diaspora Student Success – California’s first Black student retention center in public higher education. Kayton’s leadership has shaped transformative initiatives such as the Advising for Equity Administrative Advisory Committee (AEAAC). A committed practitioner-scholar, his doctoral research focuses on the B.L.A.C.K. mentorship program (i.e. the success and persistence of Black male undergraduates at a public research university). Kayton is passionate about cultivating inclusive learning environments and building infrastructure that empowers students and staff alike.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in Interdisciplinary Studies (ISF Field major), and a master’s degree from Michigan State University in Student Affairs. Driven by a deep commitment to inclusive excellence, Kayton builds systems that empower students and staff to thrive.
