Young Alumni Spotlight:
Shane Foster BA '04

This article first appeared in OHIO Alumni

What made you decide to attend Ohio University?

My dad worked at the University, so that was part of the reason that I originally decided to go here. The fact that OU had an honors program was definitely a draw for me as well. Taking part in HTC allowed me to explore my interests in Spanish, while also taking Biology classes. In the end, I had to drop out of HTC to focus on optometry. I refer to that point in my college career as my “midlife crisis.” I did not want to leave the Honors program, but decided that I wanted to pursue a degree in pre-optometry.

What are some of your favorite Athens memories?

Halloween ranks up there as some of my favorite memories. I dressed up as Billie Idol one year. So many memories were made living off campus with friends. It’s hard to choose just one!

How did you make the decision to come back to Athens after some time away and start your career here? And let me just say, according to many alumni that I have met with, you are “living the dream.” It seems like everyone’s goal after retirement is to move back to Athens and teach part time.

I grew up here. My family is from here. I worked for the Quinns as a technician when I was an undergrad at OU, so it was hard to pass up the opportunity to come back and work for Quinn, Quinn and Associates. Each time I have returned to Athens, it has been a completely different experience. Growing up here is very different from going to school here and living on campus, and now being back as an adult, again, it is completely different. There have been so many changes since I left to go to Ohio State for my Optometry degree, it gives the town a different feel. Athens is always evolving.

What does your organization do to help out the local community?

We’re a member of InfantSEE. As part of this program, we see babies from 6-12 months of age at no charge, regardless of whether or not the family has insurance. We also partner with OU’s College of Medicine, which gives med students at Ohio University the opportunity to come in for a day and get a behind the scenes experience of what exactly it is that optometrists do.

You decided to split your first gift to OHIO and give to two different areas, the Honors Tutorial College and the Appalachian Scholars Program. I know that you took part in HTC as a student, but what made you decide to support the Appalachian Scholars Program?

I first heard about the Appalachian Scholars program when I was on the University's website preparing to make a donation.  I really felt drawn to that program, since I grew up in Athens County.  I know how difficult it can be for some students in this region to even graduate high school, let alone go to college.  Appalachia is stricken with poverty, but has this great oasis of knowledge and opportunities in OU.  It is good to know that there is a program to help the area's residents take advantage of those opportunities.