The Foster Center is made possible through an endowment gift by Daria L. Foster, managing partner of Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC, honoring her late husband, William C. Foster, '62, who served on St. Bonaventure's Board of Trustees from 2008 until his passing in 2010.

The center offers a yearly speaker series, bringing to campus business and industry representatives to engage with students and area civic leaders about ways in which they incorporate ethics, integrity and other Franciscan values into their work places.

Programming to foster an ethical consciousness

“Professionalism and ethical mindfulness are critical characteristics that have the potential to transform the corporate climate across all functional areas. The Foster Center for Responsible Leadership provides a means for individuals to engage and interact in ways that stimulate forward thinking and deliberate actions focused on fiscal and social responsibility,” said Dr. Matrecia James, dean of the School of Business.

The center promotes cross-discipline scholarship in the Franciscan intellectual tradition, with a particular focus on its application to issues of responsible leadership. It strives to integrate Franciscan values with business and civic leadership.

"The core of our program is to provide support, guidance and training designed to help individuals establish or strengthen their ethical consciousness," said James. “We want to help develop leaders who recognize and accept responsibility for creating and fostering positive outcomes.”

The center offers educational materials, practices and programs designed to develop responsible leadership. Students may attend retreats, informal dinner gatherings, workshops and panel discussions, all designed to inspire them to become leaders with Catholic Franciscan values.

The center also offers professional development to the community at large through continuing education, offering certificate programs for continued professional development.

Students may also have the opportunity to travel, attend other programs that embrace ethics and leadership, and engage in academic competitions and conferences.

The Foster Center for Responsible Leadership sponsors two presentations each year, typically a fall semester speaker and a spring semester panel discussion or conference. For information on upcoming and past Foster Center events, please visit our Foster Center Events webpage.