On Feb. 27, ULM officially named Cindy G. Foust as the new Executive Director of the ULM Foundation. As a two-time graduate of the university, her goal as Executive Director is to ensure ULM’s Foundation is a welcoming organization that treasures relationships with the university.
Foust’s journey at ULM progressed as she worked to help develop the university. Recently, she earned her master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management. After spending a year with the Alumni Association, Foust transitioned to the ULM Foundation, furthering her contributions.
With eight years of experience, Foust now serves as the Executive Director, a position appointed by ULM president Carrie Castille. In this role, she leads a team that manages ULM’s Advancement, Foundation & Alumni Relations. Her team consists of gift processors, accountants, database managers, grant writers and so much more that contribute to the ULM foundation.
“I oversee a team of five,” Foust said. “They are the ones out in the markets, and they are working with donors, alumni and the alumni that turn into donors. Sometimes it is businesses, community brands, or people who give to ULM because they live here.”
Foust’s current position aligns with her ideals for the ULM Foundation. She said that the foundation focuses on building friendships and raising awareness to inspire others to engage with ULM’s alma mater.
“We like to think about raising friends and awareness and trying to encourage people to be engaged with their alma mater,” Foust said. “If you have friends, then they may likely want to give back to their university.”
A significant portion of the foundation’s work involves managing over 400 university-funded and privately funded scholarships. Foust explained that these awards are tailored to specific majors due to donors’ special fields of interest.
While international students are excluded from FAFSA, after referring to Scholarship Director Roxanne Smith, Foust confirmed that the Foundation encourages all students to apply through the Foundation’s portal, open every February.
As Foust steps into her new role of leadership, she aims to strengthen the bond between ULM and its community, ensuring that the Foundation treasures and supports the university’s ongoing success.
