Springfield College to Welcome Two-Time Academy Award-Winning Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter

Springfield, MA (06/10/2026) — Springfield College will welcome acclaimed costume designer Ruth E. Carter for an evening of conversation as part of its annual Arts & Humanities Speaker Series on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the Field House, located inside the Wellness & Recreation Complex. The event is free and open to Springfield College students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

The Springfield College Arts & Humanities Speaker Series, established in 2014, is made possible through the generosity of Carlton '63 and Lucille Sedgeley.

Widely recognized as one of the most influential costume designers in film history, Carter has earned international acclaim for her groundbreaking work on Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She became the first Black person to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and later became the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category.

With a career spanning more than three decades, Carter has contributed to more than 70 film, television, and theater productions. Her celebrated body of work includes collaborations with directors Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Ava DuVernay, and Ryan Coogler on iconic films such as Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Amistad, Selma, and the Black Panther franchise.

Beyond her award-winning work on screen, Carter is an author, producer, and advocate for diversity in storytelling. Her contributions to the entertainment industry have earned her numerous honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Costume Designers Guild Career Achievement Award.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Carter remains a source of pride for her hometown and continues to inspire audiences through her artistry and commitment to preserving and celebrating culture through design.