Profile for

Cathy Li Foster

Manager of Creative Design, Adjunct Instructor

Cathy Li Foster is a brand manager, graphic designer, illustrator and educator. She has done design work for various industries, but higher education is where she found her calling. A year into working at East Texas A&M, she started her journey toward a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, where she reaffirmed her passion for teaching, research and service. Foster incorporated all of these elements into her MFA thesis, which focuses on a game-based approach to developing empathy between educators and international students. Her findings have not only informed her work in Marketing and Communications but also her pedagogical methods. 

A Conversation with Cathy

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending East Texas A&M?

East Texas A&M changed my life, and if you're not afraid to dig deep and work hard, you'll be transformed here, too!

What do you like most about your career as a graphic designer?

My passion lies in visual communication. Visual communication is inherently a service discipline, and I feel called to create artwork in the service of others. Whether I'm designing, educating faculty and staff about our brand guidelines, or providing customer service, communication is the thread that connects everything I do.

How do you serve the university community?

I enjoy working with our faculty and staff to make their vision for a marketing piece a reality. If you have an East Texas A&M story to tell, I'm here to help bring your vision to life!

Why is good design so important?

Whether it's a flyer, social media graphic or billboard, good design can be a powerful tool. From an Instagram graphic to a billboard overlooking the Dallas skyline, the combination of good design and strong branding can compel people to action.

Education

• MFA, Visual Communications, Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M University), 2023
• BFA, Illustration, Rhode Island School of Design, 2017

Experience

• Manager of Creative Design, Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M University), 2023–Present
• Graphic Designer, Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M University), 2018-2023
• Graphic Design Intern, HEXBUG, 2017-2018
• Junior Graphic Designer, Back to the Roots, Inc., 2017
• Computer Lab Monitor, Rhode Island School of Design, 2014-2017
• Teaching Assistant, Rhode Island School of Design, 2015-2016
• Graphic Design Intern, Optum (UnitedHealth Group), 2016

Professional Organizations

• University and College Designers Association (UCDA)
• Sulphur Springs High School Career & Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Committee