FOSTERing Community & Connections
In April, in the midst of our spring welcome weekend, Foster hosted its first Alumni Diversity Dinner. The event — which was held in an intimate setting at the home of Melissa Uyesugi, Foster’s Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion — welcomed 12 admitted students, 6 of their Blue Dots (Foster’s term for significant others), 6 Foster alumni, 4 current students, and 2 staff members.
Compared to other MBA programs, Foster’s full-time class is on the smaller side, with around 100 students. But this gives the program a unique asset — a compelling sense of community. Providing a small space gave admitted students the opportunity to forge authentic connections with both current students and alumni, and allowed them to get a sense of how Foster views diversity.
In an effort to promote meaningful dialogue and connections, guests were given cups that featured fun conversation starters. There were also Jenga games that featured deeper get-to-know you questions on each piece. The alumni and students that attended found the event incredibly valuable.
“It was really a pleasure to have the opportunity to connect with prospective students at the Diversity Dinner,” Jamie Young, President of Women in Business at Foster and full-time class of 2019, said. “Needless to say, I am impressed by their accomplishments and inspired by their stories.”
“I loved the inaugural Diversity Dinner Event!” said Elisa Yuen, Senior Strategist at T-Mobile and Foster Class of 2017. “There are many Foster alumni and current students passionate about diversity. We come from different backgrounds and many of us enter different fields after graduation, but we’re united in continually striving to improve access and opportunities for underserved communities. It is always a great time catching up with those we know and building new connections with prospective students.”
In July, Foster will officially join the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in business education, and more events related to these initiatives are planned over the coming months.
Last November, Foster hosted a Fostering MBA Access event that featured prospective student visits, mentorship opportunities, and treks to several companies in the Seattle area. Foster plans to host a similar event this fall. Interested prospective students should complete this form to receive updates on upcoming events and opportunities to connect with Foster.
