Kevin Michael FosterKevin Michael Foster

Assistant Professor
Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Administration
Cultural Studies in Education, Principalship Program, Public School Executive Leadership Program

Office: SZB 528E

Phone: (512) 232-8586
Fax: (512) 471-8460
E-Mail: kmfoster@mail.utexas.edu

Mailing Address

The University of Texas at Austin
Curriculum & Instruction
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0379
UTMailCode: D5700

Profile

Dr. Foster is an anthropologist and a University of Texas at Austin faculty member. During 2009-2010 he will be on leave to serve as an American Academy for the Advancement of Science Executive Branch Policy Fellow assigned to the NSF Math and Science Partnership Program.

Dr. Foster is the founding director of ICUSP, the Institute for Community, University and School Partnerships. ICUSP works with students, conducts research and leads professional development in central Texas schools. Dr. Foster's passion is to bring research, teaching and community service together for the purpose of improving academic outcomes for African American, Latina/o and other students. He has authored dozens of publications, including academic articles and national columns. In 2005, he co-founded COBRA, the Community of Brothers in Revolutionary Alliance, a leadership group for high school boys. Under his stewardship ICUSP also sponsors VOICES, a leadership group for high school girls, and Young VOICES and Young COBRAs, boys and girls groups for middle school students.

In 2006, Dr. Foster was named The LBJ Presidential Library faculty volunteer of the year. In 2009, Dr. Foster received the Akins award from Austin Independent School District. This annual award recognizes "an individual who has exemplified strong character, excellent leadership and outstanding service while exhibiting respect for all people."

Dr. Foster received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his B. A. from the College of William and Mary.

Terminal Degree

Ph.D. (2001) The University of Texas, Austin (Anthropology)

M.A. (1994) The University of Texas, Austin (Anthropology)

B.A. (1991) The College of William and Mary (Anthropology and Economics)

Representative Publications

Documenting Tragedy and Resilience: The Importance of Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke. (w/Tifani Blakes and Jenny McKay). Urban Education Vol. 43, No.4, pp. 488-496.
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/FosteretalUrbanEducationLevees.pdf

The Worst Kept Secret: Public Debates and Communal Concerns surrounding Underground Pledging among Black Fraternities and Sororities. Transforming Anthropology Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.3-19.
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/Foster_TA_BlackGreeks.pdf

Forward Looking Criticisms: Critiques and enhancements for the next generation of Cultural Ecological Theory. In, Minority Status, Identity, and Schooling (John U. Ogbu, ed.).  Lawrence Erlbaum & Associates. (2008)
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/Ogbuconcchap24.pdf

Katrina's Kids or Ours?: The experience of displaced New Orleans students in their new schools and communities (2007) Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture and Society, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 45-52. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/katrinaskidsorours.pdf

Bridging Troubled Waters: Principles for teaching times of crisis (2006); Perspectives on Urban Education Vol. 4, No. 2. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/bridgingtroubledwaters.pdf

Austin Shelter Notes (2006); (fieldnotes from Red Cross shelter in Austin); Transforming Anthropology, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 26-30. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/ShelterNotes.pdf

Narratives of the Social Scientist: Understanding the work of John Ogbu (2005); International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 565-580. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/Narratives.pdf

Gods or Vermin: Alternative Readings of the African American Experience among African and African American College students (2005); Transforming Anthropology; Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 34-46. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/GodsorVermin.pdf

Diet of Disparagement: The Racial Experiences of Black Students in a Predominantly White University (2005); International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 489-505. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/DietofDisp.pdf

How do you ensure the fair consideration of a Complex Ancestor? Multiple approaches to asssessing the work and legacy of John Ogbu (2005); International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 559-564. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/ConsideringOgbu.pdf

Coming to terms: A Discussion of John Ogbu's Cultural-Ecological Theory of Minority Academic Achievement (2004); Intercultural Education Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 369-384. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/Cultural_ecologicaltheory.pdf

Panopticonics: The Control and Surveillance of Black Female Athletes in a Collegiate Athletic Department (2003); Anthropology & Education Quarterly Vol. 34, No.2, pp. 300-323. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/panopticonics.pdf

Contours of Community: The Formation and Maintenance of Black Student Community on a Predominantly White Campus (2003); Race Ethnicity and Education, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 265-281. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/publications/foster/contoursofcommunity.pdf

Recent Awards

  • 2006 Outstanding Faculty Volunteer (One awardee each year; awarded by the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and the UT Volunteer and Services Learning Center), University of Texas, Austin

Boards, Committees and Associations

  • 2007-2010 Executive Board Member, Harvest Foundation, Austin
  • 2007-2010 Board Member, Liveable Cities, Austin
  • 2007-2009 Member at-large, University of Texas Faculty Council
  • 2006-2009 Contributing Editor, Transforming Anthropology
  • 2006-2009 Associate Editor, Anthropology and Education Quarterly
  • 2006-2007 President, Association of Black Anthropologists

Current Research Projects and Grants

Director, Institute for Community, University and School Partnerships (ICUSP)

Community Engagement Fellow, Office of Diversity and Community Engagement

Co-founder, COBRA, Academic Development and Leadership Program for High School Boys

Current Courses

Sociocultural Influences on Learning (undergraduate level)

Cultural Theory in Education (graduate level)

Education in Contemporary Black America (graduate level)

Race, Class and Gender in Schools (principalship program)

Research Interests and Expertise

African American student achievement, Intersection of sports and academics, Impact of race and gender upon student academic outcomes, Cultural theory in education

Full Vita (download)

http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/assets/files/ci/cvs/foster_kevin.pdf

Last Updated : September 30th 2009, 07:28:26 AM


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