Sheryl Foster-Gadkari

Phone: 314-966-4988

Email: sfoster@vision-driven.com

Education:

Ph.D., Public Policy Analysis and Administration, 2002

Work Experience:

President, Strategic Impact, Inc. St. Louis, MO 2001 – present

Strategic Impact, Inc. is a professional services firm that works with organizations that want a clear strategy to maintain a competitive edge. SI accomplishes this objective by providing services in planning and evaluation. Other services include technical assistance in social entrepreneurism, research and analysis, organizational development and capacity building.

Adjunct Professor, The Brown School of Social Work, Washington University. The courses I teach are Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation and Public Policy Development and Social Work Practice.

Why did you choose SLU for your graduate degree?

I was really interested in working on urban problems and studying public policy analysis and SLU had a strong emphasis in these areas. Furthermore, I was also awarded a graduate assistantship and I thought that I would get practical experience in my field of interest. On a more personal level, I had been living and working in different cities and countries before graduate school. Since I am originally from St. Louis, I thought it would help ground me by being in a familiar place and speaking my native language for a period of time.

What factors contributed to your experience at SLU?

The faculty and staff were very helpful. The program provided experiences and enrichment opportunities and a sense of community.

How does your SLU education help you on your career path?

My SLU education gave me exposure to how what I do ties into the community at large and into the context of greater issues. SLU also blended theoretical education with practical applications. Colleagues I have encountered who went to other graduate schools had mentioned that their education was all theory and how it would have been nice to work on some real world projects.

Why would you recommend a student attend SLU?

Because SLU develops a person as a whole, not just their brain.