About Michelle

Michelle is the President and CEO of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation in Charleston, West Virginia. Prior to joining the foundation in February 2016, Dr. Foster served as the CEO of KISRA (the Kanawha Institute of Social Research & Action, Inc.) for 18 years. She is a consummate, intensely-driven professional with high level analytical, leadership, organizational management, problem-solving and technological skills. Michelle used these skills to transform KISRA into one of the most impactful and enterprising community-based, non-profit organizations in West Virginia. She developed all of KISRA’s programs, which are in the areas of Health, Employment, Asset Development and Learning. Under her leadership, KISRA grew from one employee sponsored by Ferguson Memorial Baptist Church (KISRA’s founder), to a team of over 60 employees with funding from multiple local, state, and federal sources. The KISRA team now serves and empowers over 2,500 West Virginians annually.