Dorval R. Carter, Jr., J.D. ’79

2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement: The Sullivan School of Business and Technology

Dorval R. Carter, Jr., J.D. ‘79, President and CEO of Saint Anthony Hospital, former President of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the nation’s third-largest public transit agency, and former Acting Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) during the Obama Administration, has dedicated his career to advancing equity and opportunity through public transit. For Carter, public transit is not just a service—it is a vital means of access to employment, healthcare, education and community.

Carter’s academic journey began at Carroll University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1979. A highly engaged student leader, he was an active member of the Black Student Organization, the Student Senate and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, to name just a few. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law in 1983 and is a member of both the Illinois and Federal Bars.

Carter's professional journey began at the CTA, where he held a series of critical legal positions, including Staff Attorney, Legal Assistant to the General Attorney, Acting General Attorney and Deputy General Attorney for Corporate Law. In 1991, he expanded his influence by joining the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as Regional Counsel for Region 5 in Chicago, eventually serving as Assistant Chief Counsel for Legislation and Regulations. In 2000, Carter returned to the CTA as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, where he also served as Acting President, for nearly a decade.

Carter then became the FTA’s Chief Counsel where he advised the agency on a broad range of legal issues, from procurement and grants to labor protection and innovative financing. His work supported the USDOT’s General Counsel in matters related to the federal transit program. During his tenure as a political appointee, Carter also contributed to the President’s United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Interagency Task Force for the Support of Military Families.

In 2014, Carter was appointed Acting Deputy Administrator for the FTA, overseeing a team of more than 500 staff members in Washington, D.C. and 10 regional offices nationwide and managing a $10 billion annual budget. The following year, he became Acting Chief of Staff for the USDOT, where he helped manage a department of over 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget. His leadership helped ensure the safety and efficiency of America's transportation systems, encompassing air, maritime and surface transit.

In 2015, Carter took on the role of President of the CTA, where he led an agency responsible for more than 500 million annual rides across Chicago and its suburbs. On a typical weekday, approximately 1.64 million rides are taken on the CTA.

Carter retired from the CTA in January, after nearly a decade as President and a remarkable 40-year career in public transportation. He has since taken on the role of President and CEO at Saint Anthony Hospital on Chicago’s West Side. Carter’s connection to the hospital spans over a decade, having previously served on its Board, most recently as Board Chair. He continues a family legacy, as his father worked at St. Anthony for 40 years and was Chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department for more than 10 years.

A longtime advocate for education and alumni engagement, Carter has served on numerous boards and councils, including Carroll University's Board of Trustees, where he was elected in 2012, following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Dorval R. Carter Sr., who served as a trustee from 1977 to 1981. His service to Carroll includes a tenure as Chairman of the Board from 2019 to 2022. Carter’s impact on the Carroll community extends beyond the Board of Trustees; he was also elected President of the Alumni Council, a position he held from 1990 to 1997, and has been an influential speaker at multiple university events, including Founder’s Day, Commencement, the Annual Soul Food Dinner and the Examining Intersectional Inequalities Webinar.

Carter’s philanthropic contributions to Carroll University are significant, both financially and through his active participation in a variety of events, such as the annual Chicago alumni and friends gathering, alumni diversity meetings, Homecoming and Reunion Weekend and more. His continued support has helped strengthen the university’s mission, and he remains a dedicated advocate for fostering diversity and inclusion within the alumni community.

See all the 2025 award recipients