When Erin Carter walks into a classroom at Henry W. Bloch School of Management, she’s not just a student. She’s a mother of four, first-generation college student and aspiring chief marketing officer.

Carter’s journey to UMKC began at Metropolitan Community College, where she earned her associate degree while pregnant with her youngest child. Motivated by a desire to secure a better future for her children and experience college in person, Carter transferred to UMKC to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

“I wanted to be here,” Carter said. “I wanted to experience college in person. I wanted to be on campus and not just online.”

Carter is the first in her family to attend college. That legacy weighs on her, but it also fuels her.

“I want my kids to see that no matter your age or background, you can build a better life,” Carter said.

Support from UMKC has helped make that possible. Carter is a recipient of the UMKC Student Parent Success Grant, which provides financial assistance and resources to student parents balancing academics and caregiving.

“The Student Parent Success Grant has been more than financial support,” Carter said. “It gave me the ability to focus on my education without constantly worrying about whether I was taking away from my kids’ needs. That support has helped me stay motivated and confident on my journey to graduation.”

At UMKC, Carter quickly noticed a gap in student organizations focused on marketing. She helped revive the Marketing Leadership Association, creating opportunities for students to build real-world marketing portfolios through a partnership with Wayside Waifs, a local animal shelter.

“I wanted to make sure people had something to show when they graduate,” Carter said.

In addition to her own drive to succeed, Carter credits her professors for playing a key role in her progress. Adjunct professor David Patrick connected her to a one-day internship at his firm after she shared concerns about balancing internship opportunities with her responsibilities as a student parent.

“In a class of high achievers, she was a clear standout,” Patrick said. “Her peers identified her as one of the students they learned the most from, and her group ranked her highest in quality and quantity of work contribution. When I needed an intern for my company’s High Performance Marketing Boot Camp event, Erin quickly came to mind.”

That experience ultimately led to a marketing internship at Tier One Solutions, a women-owned agency.

“I told him I needed help,” Carter said. “He listened. He didn’t judge me. That changed everything.”

Carter’s ability to juggle school, work and parenting all at once boils down to relentless time management, which is evidenced by a wall of calendars at home. But Carter also leans on something less tangible: discipline.

“I just kept showing up,” Carter said. “Even if my hair was messy or I didn’t have coffee — I showed up.”

Carter’s goals are ambitious. She wants to become a chief marketing officer, work in brand strategy and eventually give back to Kansas City through mentorship and civic engagement.

“I want to lead,” Carter said. “Anyone can be in a leadership position, but not everyone can be a leader. Plus, I’m doing this for my kids. I want them to see that you can do hard things.”

Carter’s story is part of the university’s broader effort to support non-traditional and first-generation students through scholarships and student support programs such as First Gen Roo, helping ignite the potential in every student. For Carter, that potential is already in motion.

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