Dr. Morgan Foster is a new Lecturer and Undergraduate Advisor/Program Coordinator at UW-Milwaukee, and she was so kind to take the time to answer a few questions so that we could all get to know her better! Join us in welcoming her to the WGSC community, and learn a little more about her below.
Name: Morgan Foster
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Portage, WI
Educational/professional background: As an undergraduate, I earned my Bachelor of Science in education and went on to teach English and history to high school at-risk students. I earned my Master’s in English, from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and returned there to teach as a lecturer in English and African American Studies before pursuing my doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I finished my PhD in English in May 2022 and am thrilled to be staying in Milwaukee! I’m a proud graduate of public schools at all levels and have been a public school educator in some capacity for my entire professional life.
What is your role at UW-Milwaukee? Lecturer in English and Undergraduate Advisor/Program Coordinator for Women’s and Gender Studies
What brought you to this position? The WGS position appealed to me because it allows me to do what I enjoy best: work with students. I advise students, I’ve been recruiting students for the WGS major and minor, and I work with the department chair to see how we can best support them and their needs. As much as I enjoy teaching, I also enjoy the advising piece of higher education—it’s a different relationship with students and I can use skills I’ve gained from teaching as an advisor, and vice-versa.
What do you like about working with the Women’s Gender Studies Department? My department chair, Anna, is fantastic to work with—she is such an advocate for students’ well-being and is supportive of my ideas. I have freedom to initiate and implement ideas that will serve our students, which allows for a great deal of creativity. The whole department, from staff and faculty to students, have been welcoming and appreciative of my efforts.
What books are on your nightstand? I literally have piles of to-read books. Just a few: the Paper Girls graphic narratives; young adult books by Jason Reynolds and Libba Bray; nonfiction by Brittney Cooper and Adrienne Rich; Afrofuturism by N. K. Jemison and Nnedi Okorafor; novels by Stephen King and George R. R. Martin; a few by lesbian writer-icon Sarah Waters; and a fantasy novel, The Ever Cruel Kingdom, by Rin Chupeco. So many books, so little time!
Do you have any media recommendations to share? Scene on Radio and Still Processing are two of my favorite podcasts—they discuss race, gender, and culture in such a nuanced and compelling way.
What are your hobbies or interests? Two of my hobbies are reading and cooking. I especially love reading historical fiction and young adult literature. Additionally, I love exploring Wisconsin breweries and wineries, as well as watching the Brewers (preferably in person) and eating cheese with family and friends.
Welcome, Dr. Foster!