Biography

Dr. Carmen F. Foster (KNFP-14) has extensive professional experience in public, academic & museum administration, community outreach, nonprofit board leadership, organizational development & historical research. Previous service: Director of Master’s Program in Public Policy at Harvard University, Executive Director of the Grace Harris Leadership Institute at VCU, Executive Director at University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies & Community Affairs Director for Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Executive Assistant to two Mayors, board leadership & facilitation to several nonprofits. Recently coordinated the Barbara Jackson Scholars program for the University Council for Educational Administration, headquartered at UVA. Serves as adjunct faculty/facilitator for Federal Executive Institute's signature program, "Leadership for a Democratic Society." She holds an Ed.D. from UVA, an MPA from Harvard & completed Harvard’s Program for Senior Executives in State & Local Government. She has a M.S. in Communication from Clarion University & B.S. in Mass Communications from VCU. In 2005 she received the Alumni Service Award at the first annual Black Policy conference at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. In 2004 the Richmond YWCA presented her with the Outstanding Woman in Education award. She received a 3-year fellowship in 1994 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a Kellogg National Leadership Fellow and traveled throughout Ghana, South Africa, China and Brazil to explore leadership, spirituality and healing for women & communities of color. VCU inducted her as an alumna member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 2012 and as Outstanding Alumna from VCU's School of Humanities and Sciences in 1988. She is skilled in organizational analysis, social capital development, leadership development & curriculum design, executive coaching & retreat facilitation, historical research & genealogy. She is also a certified administrator for Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).