Kirk Foster
Kirk Foster is the dean of the Florida State University (FSU) College of Social Work. With extensive experience in higher education leadership, research and social work education, he is committed to strengthening communities and supporting individuals and families in their pursuit of opportunity and well-being. Before joining FSU, he served as dean of the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work, one of the largest social work programs in the United States. He previously served as an associate professor and associate dean at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work and as director of the School of Social Work at East Carolina University. Foster currently serves as the president of the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR), the leading international research association for social work.
Foster earned a bachelor’s degree in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Social Work and a Ph.D. in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary. He has worked in higher education since 2002 and began teaching in 2008, bringing experience across public and private institutions, regional universities, and flagship institutions.
His research examines the relationships and resources shared between community members and neighborhood institutions, with a focus on understanding how these connections can promote healthy individuals, families, and communities. In 2016, his book, Chasing the American Dream: Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes, received the Best Scholarly Book Award from the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR). His new co-authored book, Finding Home: The Diverse Communities of 21st Century Black Politics, will be released in 2027.
As dean, Foster is focused on strengthening the FSU College of Social Work’s longstanding tradition of excellence in education, research, and community engagement. He is committed to expanding the college’s impact through partnerships with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community organizations while preparing future social work professionals to make meaningful contributions to individuals, families, and communities across Florida and beyond.
Areas of Focus
Community Engagement
Well-being
Political Participation
Social Capital
Education
PhD, 2011, Washington University at St. Louis, Social Work
MSW, 2002, Washington University at St. Louis, Social Work
MDiv, 1997, Eden Theological Seminary, Divinity
BA, 1994, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Russian and East European Studies
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
Research Articles
Davis, B., Foster, K. A., Wooten, N., Pitner, R. O., & Ohmer, M. L. (2025). An empirical test of gentrification-induced social and cultural displacement and place identity: Examining native Black American residents’ experiences. Journal of Community Practice, 33(3), 262-295. doi: 10.1080/10705422.2025.2547944
Davis, B., Foster, K. A., Pitner, R. O., Wooten, N., & Ohmer, M. L. (2024). Innovating methodologies for examining gentrification-induced social and cultural displacement: An illustration of integrating photovoice into story map. Urban Affairs Review, 60(1), 367-386. doi: 10.1177/10780874231177628
Ohmer, M. L., Brisson, D., Foster, K. A., Hyde, C., & Ivery, J. (2023). Collaborations in community-engaged research: Paving the way for the future of social work research. Journal of Community Practice, 31(3-4), 255-265. doi:10.1080/10705422.2023.2287937
Davis, B., Foster, K. A., Pitner, R. O., Ohmer, M. L., & Wooten, N. (2023). Conceptualizing gentrification-induced social and cultural displacement and place identity among longstanding Black residents. Journal of Black Studies, 54(4), 288-311. doi: 10.1177/00219347231166097
Foster, K. A., Davis, B., & Foell, A. (2023). Innovations to Photovoice: Using Smartphones and Social Media. Urban Affairs Review, 59(5), 1728-1744. doi: 10.1177/10780874221100263
Foell, A. & Foster, K. A. (2022). “We Roll our Sleeves up and get to Work!”: Portraits of Collective Action and Neighborhood Change in Atlanta’s West End. Urban Affairs Review, 58(6), 1652-1688. doi: 10.1177/10780874211027848
Shaw, T. C., Foster, K. A., & Combs, B. H. (2022). Disconnected mecca: Social media, place attachment, and collective action in Southern Black neighborhoods. Journal of Urban Affairs, 44, 865-886. doi: 10.1080/07352166.2020.1826326
Book Chapters
Shin, J. C., & Foster, K. A. (2026). AI in communities at risk and housing stability. In R. An & M. Lindsey (Eds.), Artificial intelligence in social work: Bridging technology and humanity. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Foell, A., Foster, K. A., & Hovmand, P. S. Community-Based System Dynamics. (2026). In B. A. Bell, A. Anders, & M. Yingling (Eds.), Handbook of research methods and methodologies for the social sciences. New York: Routledge Press.
Books
Shaw, T.C., Foster, K.A., & Combs, B.H. (under contract). Finding Home: The Diverse Communities of 21st Century Black Politics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Rank, M. R., Hirschl, T. A., & Foster, K. A. (2014). Chasing the American Dream: Understanding What Shapes our Fortunes. New York: Oxford University Press. Paperback edition released 2016.
Kirk Foster