School of Social Work names new director
School of Social Work Director Kirk A. Foster
(Photo courtesy of Kirk A. Foster)
The School of Social Work at East Carolina University has announced Kirk A. Foster as its new director. He will join ECU in July.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Kirk Foster to the School of Social Work,” said Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance. “The faculty and I were so impressed by his leadership qualities and fit with ECU’s mission. He is a rare leader who combines strong administrative experience with stellar research credentials and clinical expertise. We especially value his leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion which are vital for training today’s social workers.”
Since 2011, Foster has been a faculty member in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, where he was an associate professor and associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion.
At USC, he also served on the President’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. Foster received the 2016 Society for Social Work and Research award for best scholarly book; he co-wrote “Chasing the American Dream,” which examined and provided policy suggestions for increasing access to the American dream.
“ECU School of Social Work alumni are testament to the dedication of our faculty and the School’s reputation as educating some of the best social work practitioners in the state,” Foster said. “That commitment to the profession, to training thoughtful, well-rounded social workers, not only for eastern North Carolina but for the entire state and beyond, drew me here.”
Foster said he thrives on student engagement and success.
“I love working with students, seeing the aha moments, when students get fired up about things. When they come together around an issue or cause. How to make change, expand the table so that more voices are present and speak truth to power,” he said. “I love thinking critically about how organizations function and what they need to function well. I get very energized about thinking through all of those intricacies of organizational culture.”
Foster looks forward to working with school faculty and staff to build programs that enhance engagement, knowledge and advocacy.
“I am excited by the possibilities that lie ahead. I’m excited to get to know our students and see them grow; to work together to craft the next vision for the school; and to bring our community together to move that vision forward,” he said.
Foster’s research and publications focus on social capital and urban religious congregations and community-based organizations as providers of resources for social and economic development for underserved populations.
He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served as a pastor for 13 years in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
Foster earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; his Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary; and his Master of Social Work and doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis.