Building leaders beyond the classroom
HPE Grad Devin Foster Blends Education and Service in New Administrative Role
Devin Foster (’20, M.S. ’22) thought he was signing up for the Health and Physical Education master’s 
Foster’s undergraduate experience at Longwood had left a lasting impression, so when it was time to advance his career, he returned to the place, and the people, who had believed in him from the start. He completed his Master of Education in Health and Physical Education at Longwood University College of Graduate & Professional Studies in 2022. Today he is an assistant principal at Nottoway Intermediate School and deputy fire chief for the Blackstone Volunteer Fire Department. Just last month he added another achievement to his name: a Doctor of Education in Administration and Supervision from Liberty University.
Born and raised in Nottoway County, Foster’s path to leadership has been anything but linear. After graduating from Nottoway High School in 2015, he began his college journey as a football player at Bluefield University. An injury sidelined his playing career and temporarily his education. But after healing and reflecting, Foster returned to school and earned his associate’s degree from Southside Virginia Community College in 2018. He then transferred to Longwood to pursue his bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education.
“I had such strong relationships with my instructors as an undergrad,” said Foster. “When I graduated, they made it their mission to keep mentioning the graduate program. A few months later I realized that if I was going to pursue a master’s, it would have to be this program because of the flexibility and the support the staff provided.”
Foster completed his master’s at Longwood while teaching at Nottoway High School. But he quickly realized the program was shaping him for more than a coaching role.
“I am focused now on ensuring that our students have opportunities to excel once they graduate from Nottoway High School,” he said. “The program helped me build my organizational and planning skills, which are crucial to program sustainability — whether it’s in education or public service.”
In 2023, Foster became the school community coordinator at Nottoway High School. In this role, he led the implementation of a Virginia Department of Education grant, directed the school’s Student Success Team, and helped guide career discovery and internship opportunities. Today, as assistant principal, he brings that same energy and vision to a younger group of students, all while continuing to serve as deputy chief of the fire department where he first volunteered as a teen.
“The HPE program at Longwood was the foundation for my leadership experiences,” he said. “It introduced me to navigating difficult conversations and high-quality instructional planning. It absolutely prepared me for the Virginia Fire Officer Academy, one of the most challenging trainings I’ve ever done, and gave me the confidence to lead in many different environments.”
For Foster, what set Longwood apart wasn’t just the quality of the curriculum, it was the people.
“The best quality of the program is the staff. They cared about me as a person, not just a student. From orientation through graduation, they made it their mission to make me successful in and out of school,” he said. “Even today, those relationships continue. I still collaborate with faculty and some have even visited my school to give talks.”
Foster has also maintained strong ties with his peers from the program.
“We still stay in touch and talk about work and life,” he said. “Without the relationships I built at Longwood, I wouldn’t have some of the best professional resources — and closest friends — I rely on today.”
As for prospective students? Foster doesn’t hesitate to recommend the program.
“This program prepares you to lead in your school and your community. You’ll be challenged, but the faculty will not let you fail,” he said. “You’ll get individual guidance, reflective practice, and a foundation that will push you to be the change.”
Looking back, Foster says he wouldn’t change a thing… except maybe starting sooner.
“If I could go back and do it all over again, I would have taken advantage of the opportunity earlier,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Longwood’s graduate program.”