White House Author

Dr. Michelle Mickle Foster is the CEO of the Kanawha Institute for Social Research & Action, Inc. (KISRA) and has served in this capacity since 1998 (14 years). She developed all of KISRA’s 13 major programs that are in the areas of education, employment, economic empowerment and behavioral health. Under her leadership, KISRA has grown from one employee sponsored by Ferguson Memorial Baptist Church (KISRA’s founder), to a team of over 70 employees with funding from multiple local, state, and federal sources. Dr. Foster and the KISRA team serve and empower thousands of West Virginians annually. Dr. Foster has a doctorate in community economic development and was formerly a chemical engineer.