Tonya M. Foster

Tonya M. Foster serves as the George & Judy Marcus Endowed Chair in Poetry at San Francisco State University, establishing her as a leading figure in contemporary poetry and literary innovation. Her work bridges creative practice with scholarly engagement across multiple disciplines.

Her research explores:

• Poetry as a vector for social and imaginative transformation
• Intersections of visual art and creative writing pedagogy
• African American literary traditions and experimental forms
• Decolonial approaches to language and grammar
• Community-based writing practices and mentorship

Foster's contributions have earned significant recognition:

• 2023 C.D. Wright Award in poetry from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts
• Creative Capital Award supporting innovative artistic projects
• Radcliffe Fellowship for advanced scholarly work

As a New Orleanian with deep cultural roots, she actively collaborates with institutions like the CUNY Graduate Center's Center for the Humanities, where she was a fellow and editor for Lost & Found: The CUNY Poetics Document Initiative. Her forthcoming works—including Thingifications::Mathematics of Chaos and the Umbra Galaxy, Umbra Reader compendium—demonstrate ongoing commitment to expanding poetic discourse through interdisciplinary frameworks and community engagement.