Linda A. Foster, M.S. '16

Andrew Purnell Jr. Trailblazer Award Winner

• Retired superintendent of Building Services, Illinois State University; Bloomington

• Major: Social Work

Linda Foster embodies the spirit of justice, equality, and truth. She often works late into the evenings and over weekends and holidays to remain a voice for the voiceless and to assist the disenfranchised and the ostracized. She believes that “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As such, she creates coalitions to advance goodness and fairness in the Bloomington-Normal community. 

Foster demonstrates a sincere and heartfelt commitment to fostering collaboration and mutual respect among people of various religious, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. She is well-respected throughout the Bloomington-Normal community where she has worked for over 40 years. She develops bridges to make certain everyone can cross over together, while working on community-related disparities. The community has come to depend on Foster as a true servant-leader.

Foster believes in the importance of paying it forward and does so by inspiring others to aim for greatness and by refusing to allow society to dictate limited capabilities. She has assisted hundreds of families from the Bloomington-Normal community by serving as their voice and by assisting the voiceless with overcoming obstacles and access to reasonable services. Foster is a servant-leader, and as such, she does not seek recognition. She enjoys making a positive difference in the lives of others without receiving accolades. A few of Foster’s community affiliations include:

• President of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP branch
• Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Past chair of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church trustee board
• Past chair of the Family Community Resource Center board (a faith-based not-for-profit organization that provides advocacy, outreach, support, and education to disadvantaged families)
• Past chair of the Minority and Police Partnership
• Graduate of McLean County Chamber of Commerce leadership program
• Past Worthy Matron of Eve Chapter #21-Order of the Eastern Stars
• Illinois State University Social Work community advisory board
• Certified election judge for McLean County

Foster is an alum of Eureka College and received her Master of Social Work from Illinois State University. In 2024, she received the Illinois State University Department of Social Work Alumni Achievement Award.

Her efforts are paying dividends, as the partnerships she has built allow for proactive handling and involvement, as opposed to reactionary measures. Organizations and schools with concerns and issues are contacting her directly as they realize she is a stronghold in the community and is well-respected as a leader committed to action-oriented behaviors.