| | |
Freeing the Power of the Individual
College of Health

College of Health Dean

Dean Fos Michael Forster
Ph.D. - Dean and Professor

Degrees:
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Amherst
M.S.W., University of Illinois at Chicago
B.A., Louisiana State University

Dr. Forster is Professor of Social Work in the School of Social Work, where he served as director for eight years before assuming the duties of interim dean in June 2008.  Before joining the USM faculty in 1994, Dr. Forster occupied a variety of administrative, supervisory and direct social work positions in Chicago children and family service agencies.  Most recently, he was executive vice-president for Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network (formerly Uhlich Children’s Home), one of the largest social service agencies in Chicago. 

Along with Dr. Tim Rehner, Dr. Forster is co-founder and co-director of the Family Network Partnership, a delinquency prevention and family support agency on Hattiesburg’s east side operating since 1996 under the auspices of the School of Social Work.

Dr. Forster’s teaching specialization is the organization and administration of social service agencies.  In addition, he is a regular instructor of the Honors College thesis proposal development seminar.

Dr. Forster’s principal research interests lie in the areas of youth development, non-profit organizational management, and child welfare system reform.  His work has received major funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Mississippi Department of Human Services, among other agencies. 

Dr. Forster is a recipient of the university’s Excellence in Teaching (1999), Excellence in Research (2001), and Innovation Partnership (2007) awards.  In 2007 the Mississippi Conference on Social Welfare presented him its Merit Award for his contributions to social system reform.

 


Michael Forster, Ph.D.
Interim Dean and Professor
College of Health
The University of Southern Mississippi
Box 10075
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
601-266-4866 (phone)
601-266-5790 (Fax)
Michael.Forster@usm.edu