Metropolitan State University of Denver welcomes Joseph Foster, Ph.D., as the new director of Veteran and Military Student Services. Although Foster is settling into a new title, leadership roles and the University community are familiar to this former Roadrunner. From 2018-19, Foster served as a fellow on the American Council on Education and at MSU Denver working in the Office of the President. This year, he retired from a 28-year Air Force career as a senior military faculty member at the Air Force Academy.
“In my experience, few people retire from the military and that’s it, they’re done. Most see it as closing one chapter and opening the next. I knew I wanted to continue to serve in some capacity and make a difference if I could,” Foster said. “And I love MSU Denver. I am very blessed to be able to serve with awesome people at an awesome institution.”
Foster recently spoke with the Early Bird about his hopes and ambitions for this new chapter with MSU Denver:
Early Bird: What resources are available to veteran and military students at MSU Denver?
Foster: We have a great facility in Tivoli (Room 215) for our veterans and military-affiliated students,; a place to work, study, relax and get support and advice. We have people who know the Veteran’s Affairs system inside and out and can help solve any issue. We have a cadre of staff and students eager to support one another through activities, academic assistance and professional development. Most importantly, we have top-down support from President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., and University leadership right down through the faculty and Student Affairs community.
Early Bird: What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Foster: Working with the outstanding staff and students in the center as we continue to build a strong sense of belonging for veteran and military students at MSU Denver. Additionally, two important events are coming up in the next month. MSU Denver’s Student Veterans Association is partnering with the Classroom to Career Hub to hold a résumé workshop on March 29. This is a great opportunity for students to start, finish or polish their résumés in preparation for the April 5 Veterans Luncheon and Spring Job and Internship Fair.
Early Bird: What considerations should faculty and staff members take to better serve veteran and military students?
Foster: Veterans and military students reflect the Roadrunner experience, so their concerns look pretty familiar. If you have a vet in class, you probably don’t realize it. They are the students who show up on time and keep their heads down and work hard. And yes, some deal with burdens that faculty, staff or classmates might not realize, like trying to navigate a complicated VA benefits system, or dealing with physical or mental burdens, or the fact that things we see on the news — the withdrawal from Afghanistan or the Russian invasion of Ukraine — might be personal to them rather than just a geopolitical event.
Early Bird: What’s one thing you would like to share with others about MSU Denver’s veteran and military population?
Foster: Vets and military students are quintessential Roadrunners. Serve one, you’re serving the other. On the other hand, resist the temptation to put them in some demographic or ideological box. Veterans are as diverse a group as you will find on campus. Stereotypes about military-affiliated students or veterans are as inaccurate as they are unhelpful.
Early Bird: What might people be surprised to learn about you?
Foster: I love to relax by cooking and baking. I was a radio disc jockey before joining the military. I dressed up as (Vice President for Student Affairs) Will Simpkins for Halloween one year. True story — wasn’t hard: a pair of glasses and a name tag.