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Kaci Foster '03

Kaci Foster
Kaci H. Foster graduated from WVU Tech in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in public service administration, and in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history and government. She also minored in political science and economics. While she was a student at Tech, Foster was very active on campus. She was the editor, sales manager and business manager of the Tech Collegian newspaper for two years. She was also a member of the Student Government Association (SGA), Student Activities Board, Homecoming Committee, Residence Hall Association, President's Food Service Committee, and played intramural softball. While a senator in SGA, she served as the recording secretary and Chair of Communications for two years. She was also on the Elections Committee, Internet Committee, and Food Service Committee. In 2002, while still a student at WVU Tech, she worked as a journalism teacher and mentor for the Upward Bound program. In 2003, she served as a summer intern for Senator Jay Rockefeller in his Charleston office.

After graduating, Foster continued her education at West Virginia University, where she studied public history with an emphasis in Appalachian history. While there, she worked as a foreman in advertisement production for the Daily Athenaeum newspaper for three years. She later moved to Pittsburgh and worked in the Senator Heinz History Center and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. She returned to her home state in 2010. She worked as a senior advertising executive for the Charleston Gazette-Mail newspaper, a journalist for the Montgomery Herald newspaper, an adjunct professor for Introduction to Genealogy and Local History Research class at BridgeValley Community and Technical College, and the director of marketing for the largest optical business east of the Mississippi River. She held several of these positions simultaneously. While at the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Foster won seven West Virginia Press Association awards for her work in advertising and was a four-time recipient of the Driver Award, driving new businesses across West Virginia to advertise, and salesperson of the month.

In 2019, Foster started working at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and West Virginia Community and Technical College System Division of Student Affairs. As their Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist, she assists in coordinating the community and communications outreach efforts. She coordinates advertising, marketing, digital, social media, and community outreach campaigns as well as writes, designs, and creates content for publications distributed to schools and institutions statewide. She is also the coordinator for the statewide College Decision Day campaign, which is part of a growing national effort to celebrate high school seniors for their postsecondary plans and assist them and their families in enrolling in and transitioning to college. During the 2023 College Decision Day, she worked closely with over 80 high schools across West Virginia. The number of schools that register has increased every year during the four years she has led the campaign. She hopes to repeat this trend in 2024 with another record-breaking year. Foster coordinates event table outreach and participates in college fairs and community events around the state throughout the school year. In addition, she works with the federally funded WV GEAR UP program, which helps students in 11 counties in West Virginia prepare to succeed in education and training beyond high school. She assists with coordinating other outreach programs and activities, including College Application and Exploration Week, the GEAR UP Student Leadership Academy and GEAR UP U Summer Academy. Her goal is to make a difference in the lives of students across the state of West Virginia and help them achieve their dreams.

Outside of work, Foster has always been active in her community. She has served on the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association (TGBAA) Board of Directors since 2013 and was secretary of TGBAA from 2014 to 2020. Since 2020, she has served as their first vice president. She is also on the TGBAA Student Mentorship Committee and Silent Auction Committee. Foster is a member of the Kanawha Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the West Virginia Archeological Society. During her free time, she contributes as a freelance journalist for newspapers and magazines in central and southern West Virginia. She also enjoys doing local history research, gardening, kayaking, and cheering on the sidelines for her son during his high school football games.