Tracey Carter

Biography

Prior to joining Belmont University's College of Law as the founding Director of Belmont Law's Academic Success Program and as an Assistant Professor of Law as part of Belmont Law’s inaugural law faculty, Dr. Tracey Carter was the Director of Tennessee State University’s (TSU) Office of Equity, Diversity, and Compliance, where she served as TSU’s Chief Diversity Officer, Affirmative Action Officer, Diversity Contact to the Tennessee Board of Regents, Title VI Coordinator, Title IX Coordinator, and Section 504 Co-Coordinator. In addition, she served as the Director of TSU’s President’s Fellowship Program and as a member of TSU’s President’s Fellowship Program Advisory Committee. Dr. Carter led and served as Belmont Law's Director of Academic Success for 11 years with an overall focus on assisting law students in excelling academically and by creating a supportive environment that promoted student academic success. During her tenure as the Director of Academic Success, she provided academic support to students in their transition to law school, discussed academic strategies that are necessary for being successful in the study of law, assisted Belmont Law students placed on Academic Warning and Academic Probation improve their overall academic performance, and she provided one-on-one academic counseling, practical tips, and career advice and assistance to law students as they transitioned from law school to the legal profession. Dr. Carter also served a two-year appointment as Belmont Law’s first Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Carter has extensive legal experience. She was a Litigation Paralegal for the law firm of Penn, Stuart, Eskridge & Jones in Abingdon, Virginia as well as a Paralegal Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. Dr. Carter also served as a Law Clerk for the General Civil Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office here in Nashville as well as a Summer Associate for the law firms of Neal & Harwell here in Nashville and Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell in Knoxville, Tennessee. Immediately following law school and prior to joining Belmont Law, she was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Marietta Shipley of the Davidson County Tennessee Second Circuit Court in Nashville. Following her judicial clerkship and immediately prior to working at TSU, Dr. Carter was an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.

Dr. Carter received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies with a minor in Business Administration from Virginia Intermont College, where she graduated summa cum laude and as Valedictorian of her class. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she made Dean’s List four out of six semesters and served on the Moot Court Board as well as a National Moot Court Team member. Following law school, she also exhibited superior academic excellence at TSU, where she received her Master of Public Administration degree and her Doctor of Education degree in Administration and Supervision with a concentration in Higher Education Administration. Dr. Carter is a Harry S. Truman National Scholar for the State of Virginia, a Nashville Bar Foundation Fellow, and was selected by The National Black Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Black Lawyers in Tennessee. 

Dr. Carter has been a member of the Tennessee bar for over 20 years, is a lifetime member of the Napier Looby Bar Association, is a Rule 31 Tennessee Supreme Court Listed General Civil Mediator, and has served in the past as a certified Adjunct Graduate Faculty member at TSU where she taught Educational Law to graduate students. She also completed Harvard Negotiation Institute’s “The Harvard Negotiation Intensive.” At Belmont Law, Dr. Carter currently teaches Election Law, Torts, Negotiations, and Mediation and has also taught Constitutional Law. She also served as Belmont Law’s Black Law Students Association’s inaugural Faculty Advisor and served as the organization's advisor for over 7 years.

PRESENTATIONS

Presenter, Breakout Sessions with Attorneys (Speed Mentoring), Nashville Bar Association's Diversity Committee's Virtual Young Scholars Leadership Program (June 4, 2021).

Presenter, The Psychology of Negotiations, Tennessee Attorney General's Office Virtual CLE (December 15, 2020).

Presenter, Drunk Drivers, Dram Shop Laws, and Social Host Liability, Belmont University College of Law’s Alumni CLE (February 19, 2019).

Presenter, The Current Legal Landscape of Youth Sports and Concussions, Belmont University College of Law’s Alumni CLE (February 2, 2018).

Presenter, The Elephant in the Classroom - Addressing Sensitive Topics with Skill and Courage: “Difficult and Sensitive Legal Topics and Cases,” Belmont University’s Teaching Center Lunch Discussion (January 26, 2018).

Presenter, How to Excel in Law School, Southern Region of the National Black Law Students Association’s Academic Retreat (October 21, 2017).

Presenter, From Youth Sports to Collegiate Athletics to Professional Leagues: Is There Really “Informed Consent” by Athletes Regarding Sports-Related Concussions? Belmont University College of Law’s Faculty Development Committee Brown Bag Lunch (March 30, 2016).

Presenter, Building Future Leaders and Youth Advocates for Positive Change, Building Youth Partnerships’ Leadership Day (July 11, 2015).

Presenter, Best Practices in Helping Students Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, 2^nd Annual Association of Academic Support Educators National Conference (May 31, 2014).

Presenter, Post-Crawford: Were Recent Changes to State Voter ID Laws Really Necessary to Prevent Voter Fraud and Protect the Electoral Process? Belmont University College of Law Faculty Development and Presentation Lunch (April 18, 2013).

Presenter, How to Become a Better, Effective Leader, Tennessee State University’s Leadership TSU (October 20, 2012).

Presenter and Moderator, Reading and Briefing Cases; Note Taking; Course Outlining; Time and Stress Management; Study Skills (e.g., "Preparing and Studying for Exams"); and Exam Skills (e.g., "Writing Your Best Law School Essay Exams"), Belmont University College of Law’s Academic Success Program Workshops (2011 – 2022).

PUBLICATIONS

Drunk Drivers Are a Moving Time Bomb: Should States Impose Liability on Both Social Hosts and Commercial Establishments Whose Intoxicated Guests and Patrons Subsequently Cause Injuries or Death to Innocent Third Parties. 49 Cap. L. Rev. 385 (2021) | SSRN

3 Keys to Becoming a Better Negotiator, Nashville Business Journal (2021). 

Eliminating Barriers to Voting: How Allowing College Students to Use Their Student IDs to Vote in Certain Southeastern States Can Help Make Voting Great in America. 49 U. Mem. L. Rev. 1185 (2019). | SSRN 

It Is a Mindboggling Dilemma: To Play or Not to Play Youth Sports Due to Concussion Risks?, 67 Cath. U. L. Rev. 1 (2018). | SSRN 

Local, State, and Federal Responses to Stalking: Are Anti-Stalking Laws Effective?, 22 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 333 (2016). | SSRN

From Youth Sports to Collegiate Athletics to Professional Leagues: Is There Really Informed Consent by Athletes Regarding Sports-Related Concussions?, 84 UMKC L. Rev. 331 (2015). | SSRN

College Students and State Voter ID Laws: Can I Vote in the State Where I Attend College? I Have a Student ID Card, 45 U. MEM. L. REV. 331 (2014). | SSRN

Post-Crawford: Were Recent Changes to State Voter ID Laws Really Necessary to Prevent Voter Fraud and Protect the Electoral Process?, 12 CONN. PUB. INT. L.J. 283 (2013). | SSRN

Ascension to the American College Presidency: A Study of Female Presidents of Public Universities and Community Colleges in Select Southern States (2010) (unpublished Ed.D. dissertation, Tennessee State University) (on file with author).

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Panelist, Diversity and Law: Thoughts from our Professors, Belmont University College of Law's Black Law Students Association (September 22, 2021).

Panelist, Barriers at the Ballot Box: Protecting or Limiting the Core of the American Identity? "Voter Identification Law Panel," The University of Memphis Law Review’s Symposium (March 15, 2019).

Panelist, In Order to Form a More Perfect Union, “College Students and Voter ID Laws in Select States in the Southeast Region: Allowing Student IDs as Voter ID,” Mississippi Law Journal’s Voting Rights Act Symposium (April 8, 2016).

Panelist, Judicial Clerkships, Belmont University College of Law’s Office of Career Services’ Lunch and Learn (March 21, 2013).

Panelist, Affirmative Action, 42^nd Annual Southern Region Black Law Students Association’s Regional Convention: 4th Annual Law Journal Symposium (February 2, 2013).

Panelist, Balancing Act, Belmont University College of Law’s Women’s Law Students Organization (November 1, 2012).

Panelist, Tips for Success: How to Survive Law School 101, Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers 2^nd Annual Law Students Conference (October 13, 2012).