Nicholas D. Foster (Nick) is Chicago Studies' inaugural Assistant Instructional Professor, teaching classes that focus on Chicago history and culture and mentoring undergraduate research into the city. He comes to Chicago Studies after two years as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Chicago, where he completed his PhD in History in 2023.
Nick's path to the study of history was an eclectic one. After graduating with a BA in English from Tulane University, Nick played in local bands, and began to work as a line-cook in restaurants throughout New Orleans, eventually becoming a sous-chef in a French Quarter restaurant. In 2010 he unexpectedly lost his job due to the Great Recession, leaving him stunned and confused. This event spurred Nick to investigate how political-economic decisions that seem so beyond our control directly affect our lives. Nick was hired as a copy editor, and then as the Business Manager for Tulane University’s Law Journals. Simultaneously, he began working towards his Master’s degree in History with a focus on capitalism and labor, writing his thesis on the 1976 Right to Work campaign in Louisiana. He then enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he focused on how the financialization of the U.S. economy shaped, and was shaped by, American cultural ideals. His dissertation, Country on FIRE: The Virtuous Producer in the Era of Finance Capitalism, focuses on the central role played by Chicago institutions such as the Board of Trade and Mercantile Exchange in this crucial economic and cultural shift, and was submitted (with distinction) in June 2023.
Nick lives in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. He spends his free time exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, often camera in hand, seeking out new coffee shops, restaurants, and taverns. When not exploring the city, Nick is often taking in live music in one of the many venues that Chicago has to offer, working on his book manuscript, and recording music.
Nick brings a palpable excitement and enthusiasm for the city to Chicago Studies. His expertise on the Chicago futures market, labor history, and capitalism combine with his interest in music, food, neighborhood cultures to create a dynamic resource that students can take advantage of to further their own interests in the city. From the best spot for a Chicago Dog (Budacki’s and Fatso’s Last Stand are always at the top of the list) to where to catch a live show (Empty Bottle or The Hideout) or what archive will best serve your research (always start with the Chicago History Museum), Nick will try to provide the answers for all things Chicago!