Lloren Foster, a former professor in the African American Studies Program, died last Tuesday, Oct. 3, after having a heart attack, according to Foster’s son.

Eyon Alexander Biddle Sr., Foster’s son, posted on Facebook that Foster had died Tuesday “after suffering a massive heart attack.”

Black Leaders Advocating for the Community, or BLAC, confirmed the death of Foster on Tuesday night, posting on Facebook, “BLAC would like to extend condolences to the family and friends of former WKU professor, Dr. Lloren Foster. You will be missed!”

BLAC is “a network of representatives from different areas of the community including churches, businesses, sororities, fraternities, civic groups, nonprofits and educational institutions,” according to their Facebook page.

Foster formerly taught in the African American Studies Program within the department of diversity and community studies at WKU. Foster taught at WKU until 2015 and worked at the University of Florida as the executive director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs until last September, according to The Independent Florida Alligator.

According to Biddle, Foster had recently accepted a new position as Chair of English and Modern Foreign Languages at Hampton University.

WKU and University of Florida students and faculty took to social media, mourning the death of Foster.

Sehmar Ghebreselasie tweeted, “So sad to hear about Dr. Foster. #WKU lost a man who cared so much about the students he served.”

WKU admissions counselor Kayla Lofton tweeted, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of one of my favorite WKU professors. I’ll miss you Dr. Foster! Thank you for changing my life.”

Reginald Lane, associate director of sorority and fraternity affairs at the University of Florida, remembered Foster on Facebook.

“My heart is with the family of Dr. Lloren Foster,” part of Lane’s post reads. “I think he taught us all something about what it meant to be Black in America. His dedication and commitment to black excellence will be missed.”

Lane, a 2010 WKU graduate, said although he did not know Foster as a professor, he became friends with him after graduating from WKU, through visits to the university and through his fraternity brothers. Lane and Foster also worked together at the University of Florida.

“One thing that was consistent was that he did care about his students,” Lane said. “He wanted you to excel and do well.”

Lane said one of the biggest lessons he learned from Foster was “controlling the narrative” and always being himself.

“One of the things he taught me…was not conforming to what society would want me to be, to be greater and be who I wanted to be,” Lane said.

Lane said he thought Foster was inspiring to many people, and a reason why Lane has had success in his life.

“He’s a good man and I’m so sorry for the loss of such a special man,” Lane said of Foster.

News editor Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @monica_kast.