Energetic, passionate, and results-focused academic leader with more than 20 years of experience in teaching and administrative roles across higher education environments. A progressive professor and instructor who advocates technological integration and differentiation. Possesses exceptional program development and delivery skills. A champion of student diversity, rigorous academic standards, and cross-departmental collaboration and communication.

EDUCATION:

1990 – 1995 Ph.D. in Biological Sciences University of South Carolina

1985-1990 Bachelor of Science in Biology Columbus State University

SKILLS:

Internal and external leadership

Cross-departmental communication & collaboration

Project & Program Management

Curriculum Design & Development

Enrollment & Behavior Management

CAREER HISTORY:

09.2011 – 06.2014 Dean of Academic Affairs Palm Beach State College

Strategic Planning & Program Management

Guided, through strategic planning and hands-on leadership, all areas of academic curriculum and advising for Humanities, English, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Education, Health, Nutrition, Natural Sciences, Computer Science, Accounting, Business, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, and Massage Therapy Disciplines.

Positioned college for long-term success by developing academic goals in line with other departments and overarching college objectives.

Promoted unity and regulatory compliance by liaising among college departments and with federal and state offices, including legislative sectors.

Propelled college to meet its needs by assessing departmental problems and making recommendations for resources acquisition and process modification.

Oversaw numerous essential programs, including Honors, Online/Distance/e-Learning (Blackboard), Student Learning Center, Media Services, Professional Teaching and Learning Center, and Supplemental Instruction.

Employee Leadership/Staff Management

Supervised two Associate Deans and an Administrative Assistant, including budget development and monitoring.

Guaranteed instructional excellence by supervising full-time and adjunct faculty.

Bolstered staff performance through monitoring, coaching, & providing career counseling.

Improved office quality by implementing various professional enhancement initiatives.

08.2011 – 12.2011 Adjunct Faculty - Biology Tallahassee Community College

Taught successful online course for two semesters – BSC1050 (Environmental Systems).

07.2011 – 06.2012 Rasmussen College Online Adjunct Faculty

Engaged distance learners by teaching successful online course and laboratory (G156 – Human Biology & G156L – Human Biology Lab).

09.2010 – Present Foster Consulting & Facilitation & New Paradigm Services Owner/Educational Consultant

Developed online course and course materials for graduate students from 2011-2014.

CAREER HISTORY, CONTINUED

08.1995 – 09.2010 Eastern Kentucky University

Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 2009-2010

Interim Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 2007-2009

Interim Chair – Department of Biological Sciences, 2006-2007

Administrative Intern – Office of the Provost, 2002-2003

Associate Professor, 1995-2010

Student Leadership

Supervised and mentored 18 students who earned their Master of Science as member of Graduate Advisory Committees.

Led four Honors Thesis Research Projects for university’s Honors Program.

Served as faculty advisor for Biology Club, SPOUT, and EKU Pride Alliance.

Strengthened diversity awareness by presenting lecture on diversity for new staff members at EKU Residence Hall Association.

Invited to speak at Phi Sigma (International Biology Honor Society) Initiation Banquet.

Advised approximately 60-70 students per semester as Premedical Academic Advisor.

Prepared minority and at-risk students to graduate college by mentoring/volunteering for PLUS program that identified students in need and paired them with faculty.

Administration

Maintained integrity/academic standards by providing administrative oversight for student academic regulations/records, including certifying degree requirements.

Coordinated BIO 171 labs, overseeing 19 lab sections and 6-8 graduate teaching assistants, serving approximately 600 anatomy students per semester.

Advanced university goals by volunteering to teach one overload course per semester and traveling to extended campus to teach Microbiology after instructor’s retirement.

Ensured efficiency and effectiveness by chairing numerous committee meetings.

Unified departments/institutions while improving course/learning synthesis for students by promoting the development if intra and inter-college courses and programs.

Positioned university to meet its goals by leading recruitment and retention efforts, overseeing general education initiatives and championing instructional technology.

Represented EKU at Governor’s Summit on Diversity in Buffalo, NY.

Curriculum Development/Instruction

Enhanced student learning by implementing computer technology into all classes, using Blackboard and providing websites for each course.

Contributed to design/development of general education guidelines to be used in General Education Program, representing Biology Department at General Education Workshop.

01.1994 – 06.1995 South Carolina State Museum Natural History Presenter

Engaged visitors of all ages by hosting and maintaining natural history habitat, and providing information/instruction to all visitors.

08.1990 – 06.1995 Dept. of Biological Sciences – University of South Carolina Graduate Teaching Assistant

Equipped students for scientific careers by teaching several undergraduate courses and labs, including special sections for Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholars.

03.1988 – 06.1990 Desoto, Inc. Chemical Quality Control Technician

Ensured quality by operating/maintaining laboratory and supervising manufacture of cleaning products from raw chemicals, including laundry and dishwasher detergents.

COURSES TAUGHT:

Biology: Principals of Biology, Human Anatomy, Clinical Microbiology, Human Heredity & Society, Evolution, Online Evolution, Biology Laboratory, Human Anatomy Laboratory

University/Honors/Research: Undergraduate Seminar, Undergraduate Independent Research, Graduate Independent Research, Graduate Seminar, Thesis Research, Honors Sciences Seminar, Academic Orientation

COMMITTEES:

University: Diversity Committee Co-Chair, Pre-Medical Advisory Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Research Committee, Institutional Review Board (Human Subjects Review), Scholarship Committee, Disciplinary Committee

School/Department: Curriculum, Promotion & Tenure, Space/Facilities/Equipment, Honors & Awards, Animal Care, Newsletter, Search, HCOP Advisory

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Award for Teaching Excellence Nominee – National Seniors Honor Society (Mortar Board)

Professor of the Month Award – Four-Time Winner

Outstanding Zoology Student – Columbus State University

Who’s Who Among Students at American Universities & Colleges

PROFESSIONAL

ASSOCIATIONS:

American Society of Mammalogists

South Carolina Academy of Science

AAAS

Association of Southeastern Biologists

Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education

National Science Teacher Association

PUBLICATIONS:

REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLE

Genetic Polymorphism in the Mitochondrial Gene Cytochrome b in Kentucky Peromyscus. Michael (Deer Mouse) populations. Michael L. Foster and Adrian T. McCollum. JKAS 62(2). 2001.

REFEREED PUBLISHED CREATIVE WORKS:

PowerPoint CD to accompany first edition of McKinley Anatomy Textbook, 2005

“Teaching Evolution to Persons Offended by the Word Evolution,” McGraw-Hill Higher Education Online Resource for Teachers, www.mhhw.com/zoology, 1998

OUTLINES & STUDY GUIDES

Lecture Outline/Study Guide - Human Anatomy, William C. Brown, McGraw Hill, 2000/’05/10

Lecture Outlines/Study Guide – Human Heredity & Society, William C. Brown, McGraw Hill, 2000

Lecture Outlines/Study Guide – Evolution, William C. Brown, McGraw Hill, 1997

PRESENTATIONS:

ORAL PAPERS/LECTURES

What is Darwinian Evolution?” EKU Chataqua Lecture Series, 2000

“The Biology of Homosexuality” EKU Pride Alliance Meeting, 2001

Speaker, EKU, 2006 Nat’l Pan Helenic Council Recognition Ceremony for Black Graduates

Guest Lecturer, EKU, 1999, “The Biology of Aging”

Guest Lecturer, EKU, 1999, “The Effects of Aging on the Reproductive System”

Guest Lecturer, EKU, 1999, “Use of Population Genetics in Conservation Biology”

Guest Lecturer, EKU, 1999, “Use of Molecular Techniques as Applied to Mammalogy”

Guest Lecturer, EKU, 1999, “Darwinian Evolution”

Guest Lecturer, EKU, 1999, “Mitochondrial Eve: Origins of Man”

POSTERS PRESENTED:

Summary of Research Investigating Antibiotic Resistant Stains of Bacteria. Marcia Pierce, Marcia Watkins, and Michael L. Foster, American Society of Microbiology, Atlanta, GA, Fall 2005

MRSA in Hospitals. Marcia Pierce, Marcia Watkins, and Michael L. Foster, KAS, 2005

Comparative Study of Cranial and Molecular Characteristics for the Eastern Cottontail and Appalachian Cottontail. Piety C. Cook, Stephen Sumatran and Michael L. Foster, Eastern Kentucky University, November 10, 2001, KAS Poster Presentation

GRANTS & CONTRACTS:

FUNDED PROJECTS AS CO-PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR

Genetic Associations of Environmental Degradation: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Communities as Indicators, Stephen Richter, William Stardom, Charles Elliott, and Michael Foster. Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute, 2006

Kentucky Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network, Molecular Biology Training Grant Supporting Faculty Responsible for teaching PCR to Undergraduate and Graduate students, Pat Cali, Debra Bautista, and Michael Foster, NIH, 2003-2006.

Infrastructure Network for Biomedical Research Excellence, 2006-2009.

FUNDED PROJECTS AS PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR

Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis of Peromyscus Populations in Eastern and Central Kentucky. NSF EPSCoR. 1997. $15000

Development of Species-specific Markers for KY Deermouse (Peromyscus) Species Using the Polymerase Chair Reaction (PCR)/RAPD Analysis. EKU Institutional Research. 1996. $2500

Genetic Diversity Among Small Mammal Populations Inhabiting the Bluegrass Army Depot in Madison County, KY. University Research Committee 1996. $2575

EDUCATIONAL REVIEW:

ANATOMY & GENETICS TEXTBOOKS (PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM C. BROWN – MCGRAW HILL)

Human Genetics, 7th & 8th Editions, Rick Lewis

Human Anatomy, First Edition, Van deGraff

Human Anatomy, First Edition, McKinley et. al.

Understanding Evolution, Volpe, et. al.

Genetics Analysis & Principles, Third Edition, Robert J. Brooker

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS (PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM C. BROWN – MCGRAW HILL)

Human Anatomy, First Edition, Saladin

Art Program, McGraw Hill Publishers

Human Dissection Anatomy Software Program, McGraw-Hill Publishers

Educational Software for Teaching Evolution & Ecology, Evo-Beaker & Eco-Beaer

PRAXIS Teacher Certification Services, Educational Testing Services

Biotechnology Workshop, Eastern Kentucky University

SYMPOISA JUDGING:

Kentucky Academy of Science Poster Judge

Junior Academy of Science Symposium Judge

Science & Engineering Fair Judge

PROFESSIONAL

CONTRIBUTIONS:

Kentucky State P-16 Council for Improving Secondary Education

PT3 Workgroup Teaching with Technology

Consultant for Ewers Water Consultants and the Sierra Club

PRAXIS Middle School Science Teacher Exam (ETS) National Advisory Committee

PRAXIS Middle School Science Teacher Exam Question Writer

PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT:

Title IX Training, 2012

2012 International STEM Tech Conference

2012 Grant Writing Workshop

2012 Academic and Student Affairs Leadership Institute hosted by the John N. Gardner Institute

Developing a Course for the Internet, 2010

DACUM Occupational Analysis Facilitation Training: A Focus Group Story Board Process, 2010

Degree Works, 2010

Web Page Editing, 2009

Facilitation Conference – “Funneling Ideas into Action,” 2008

Funneling Ideas into Action: Meeting Management & Facilitation Skills Workshop, 2008

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Reaffirmation Process, 2006

QEP Development, 2006

College of Arts and Sciences Chairs & Deans Workshop, 2006

New Employee Orientation for Part-Time Instructors, 2006

Employee Referral Program (Behavioral Medicine Network), 2006

Employee Review Process, 2006

Strategic Planning & Program Review, 2006

General Education, 2005 & 2006

Banner Basics & Banner Finance, 2006

TracDat, 2006

Blackboard, 2002 & 2006

Diversity Training, 2003

How to Motivate Students, 1999

Multimedia Instructional CD ROM Development, 1999

Teaching with Technology, 1999

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