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Emmy L. (Zavadil) Foster
Alexandria, Minnesota

I graduated from Winona State University with a double major in 1990, a BA in Political Science and a BS in Public Administration with a minor in Sociology. I was actually able to complete college in 4 years and double major (which wasn’t too difficult, I ended up taking something like 5 extra classes to achieve the double major). Some of my fondest memories of my education at WSU were with Dr. El-Afandi, Jim Eddy, and Jim Bromeland in their classes and at a seminar in Chicago. This "career" choice was surprising to me, I never was one to enjoy politics, but I soon learned that politics and government are not necessarily the same thing. During my senior year at WSU, I did an internship at the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in Winona, which I really enjoyed.

I moved to northern California to attend graduate school. I received a Master of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in Public Management from California State University at Hayward. In my second year of grad school, I did an internship for the City of Lafayette, California. Throughout the years I have worked in many places including a bank, an oil company, a computer company, and a health insurance company. One of my favorite positions was teaching two semester courses of American Government at Lamar University (in Beaumont, TX) before moving back to Minnesota. I studied harder than my students did, I was teaching about Texas history at the same time I was learning it. What a neat environment, I would love to one day work at a university or a college again.

In March of 1997, my hometown of Alexandria, Minnesota, was hiring an Administrative Aide. Lo and behold, I was offered the position and finally I was "home" again after 11 years and many moves. After high school I couldn’t wait to get out of town, but after having a family of my own, I couldn’t wait to move back. As the pro golfer Tom Lehman (who grew up here) says, "Alexandria is an ideal place to raise children." Recently I was promoted to Personnel Director and I feel I am finally in a position to do everything that I like to do, all rolled into one position. Eventually I would like to be a City Administrator or maybe even work in administration for a university or college.

I am a member of Women in City Government, Minnesota Association of Urban Management Assistants (MAUMA), 1998 Leadership Alexandria (and the 1999 Leadership Alexandria Chairperson), Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria Internet Planning Group, Alexandria Committee on Telecommunications Infrastructure, and Douglas County Housing Task Force. Most importantly, I am a wife and mother. I’ve got the two greatest guys in my life - Joe, my husband and Mitch, our son, who is 2 years old.

My advice to students is to be a life-long learner, never quit consuming knowledge! Get your Master’s degree. Be a leader. Be active in your community. In your career, have the courage to do what you want to and don’t be afraid to change careers. Don’t settle for anything less than what you desire. Network and meet everyone! Keep in touch with your old friends, mentors, and teachers. Build bridges, you never know when and where you’ll run into someone again. And finally, be true to yourself and others.

Alumni Profiles - Alumni Survey - Alumni A - O - Alumni P - Z