Pamela Carter
Pamela Carter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pamela Lynn Fanning August 20, 1949 United States |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, political figure, corporate leader |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | First African American woman elected as a state's attorney general; Indiana Attorney General (1993–1997) |
Pamela Lynn Carter (born Fanning; August 20, 1949) is an American attorney, political figure, and corporate leader. She made history as the first African American woman to be elected as a state's attorney general, holding the office of Indiana Attorney General from 1993 until 1997.
Career
Carter completed her undergraduate studies in social work and pre-law at the University of Detroit, followed by earning an M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. She then obtained her J.D. degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Her professional background includes working as a trial lawyer with a focus on consumer protection, providing legal services for the United Auto Workers, and acting as an enforcement attorney under Indiana’s secretary of state. Subsequently, she served as deputy chief of staff to Democratic Governor Evan Bayh, where she concentrated on reforms in health and human services.
In the 1992 election, Carter secured the position of Indiana Attorney General by defeating Republican Timothy Bookwalter with 52% of the vote, taking over from Linley E. Pearson. She was not only Indiana’s first African American and female attorney general but also only the second African American elected to a statewide office in Indiana. Her term concluded when Jeff Modisett succeeded her.
In 1995, Carter was recognized on Ebony′s list featuring the "100 Most Influential Black Americans."
After her tenure in public office, Carter transitioned into the corporate sector, serving as vice president and later president of the Distribution Business unit at manufacturing company Cummins from 2008 until May 2015. Since 2015, she has held a position on the board of directors at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.