Dr. Joya Carter Hicks,Kennesaw State University

Dr. Carter was born in Atlanta and graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia and then completed a Master of Education Degree with emphasis in Special Education at Georgia State University.

Dr. Carter received a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership from Syracuse University and then earned a PhD in Special/Inclusive Education from Syracuse.

She has been a faculty member in the University System of Georgia since August 2001 and currently serves as an Associate Professor in Special Education in the Department of Inclusive Education at Kennesaw State University.

Since 2009, she has served as Associate Professor at Bagwell College of Education, Kennesaw State University. Her

responsibilities include program coordination/development, graduate and undergraduate level teaching, advising, field supervision, research and service in the special education teacher preparation program within the Department of Inclusive Education. She also serves as Director of the KSU Assistive Technology Lab.

Dr. Carter believes Leadership Coweta will expose her to new challenges and opportunities. “I am interested in learning different perspectives to use in approaching my scholarly area, disabilities studies/ inclusive special education,” she said. “And I believe Leadership Coweta provides the opportunity to have dedicated time and resources to advance my civic knowledge of Coweta County, sharpen my leadership skills, and to network with leaders from across the community and provide experiences needed to diversify the leadership of Coweta County.”

She is confident the LC experience will change her thinking about her profession and community involvement.

“I anticipate a critical analysis of my current role and how I can better serve Coweta County,” she said.