Joan M.C. Foster, Ph.D. Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Purpose:
The Fund exists to provide scholarships to students in the University’s College of Letters, Arts and Sciences as they pursue an education that will inform a life of purpose.

This Fund is established to celebrate the legacy of a great leader at MSU Denver, Dr. Joan M.C. Foster. Joan held the position as Assistant Dean of Letters, Arts and Science (LAS) at MSU Denver in the late 1980’s. After growing up in Chicago, Joan earned her Bachelor of Arts, Masters, and Ph.D. in English; she taught as an English professor in the northwest United States and in Alamosa, Colorado at Adams State College, now Adams State University, prior to moving to Denver to serve at Metro. As a dedicated and hard-working LAS Assistant Dean, Joan quickly was promoted to the position of LAS Dean in the early 1990’s. Joan served in that capacity as LAS Dean until her retirement in 2008, except for two periods of time as Metro’s Interim Provost. During these periods as Interim Provost, Joan distinguished herself overseeing many campus-wide projects, including the accreditation visitation where MSU Denver received a 10-year approval of its accreditation. Joan was named the Interim Provost by receiving the most votes from faculty, administrators, and staff as the MSU Denver leader who would be the most excellent and capable of serving in the Interim Provost position. Joan’s vitality and humor, her intelligence and pragmatism, and her commitment to her profession, her friends, and her community, continues on. These qualities she shared with us live on in the hearts and minds of her many friends and colleagues. We feel blessed and honored to have lived with and worked with a remarkable friend and colleague. She left us with her trademark style: quietly, forcefully, gracefully, and fully aware of her decisions. With this Fund, donor Olivia Hartenstein honors Joan’s friendship, leadership, and mentorship to her and to so many others.

Criteria:
The scholarship recipient shall:
• Be meeting the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid.
• Have a financial need as determined by FAFSA/CASFA and the Metropolitan State University of Denver Office Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Have a declared major within the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
• Have a current General Scholarship application on file.
• Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher.
• Be enrolled full-time (12 or more credit hours) during the semester(s) the scholarship is received.

Preference will be given to students pursuing a major within the World Languages Department.