Kierstan Carter is a doctoral student in African and African American Studies with a primary field in Government (political theory). She studies the theoretical underpinnings of institutions within United States political life, with a special emphasis on law, policing, and punishment. Her current work draws out the philosophical contributions of African American fictions. She is the current graduate coordinator for the Philosophy, Social Theory, and Criticism Workshop in African American Studies hosted by AAAS & Grade 5 Curriculum Lead for the Democratic Knowledge Project hosted by the Safra Center for Ethics.

Kierstan received a B.A. with honors and distinction from Washington University in St. Louis. Her published writings can be found in The St. Louis Anthology (Belt Publishing, 2019)