A community is mourning the loss of Paloma Foster, a UC Berkeley Regents’ Scholar whose journey from foster care and juvenile incarceration to becoming a leading student advocate inspired many across campus and beyond.
UC Berkeley’s Underground Scholars program, which supports students who have experienced incarceration, announced Foster’s death on social media this week, calling her a “beloved community member.”
A memorial gathering was held Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Stiles Hall in Berkeley to celebrate her life.
A GoFundMe page set up to help cover funeral costs said Foster died following a car crash. Her young son, Cairo, and her boyfriend, Shiloh, were also in the vehicle at the time. Details about where and how the crash occurred have not been released.
A Life Dedicated to Helping Others
Foster was a political science major and public policy student at UC Berkeley, where she had planned to pursue joint law and public policy graduate degrees after finishing her undergraduate studies.
According to a profile from the university’s Institute of Governmental Studies, she was a first-generation Mexican American student, a former foster youth, a formerly incarcerated person, and a transfer student parent who came to Berkeley from Los Angeles.
She received the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship, which the university describes as its most prestigious award given to incoming undergraduates recognized for leadership, creativity, and academic excellence.
While at Berkeley, Foster served on the California Policy Lab’s Criminal Justice Research Advisory Board and chaired the Associated Students of the University of California’s Equity and Systems Impact Commission, a student government body focused on representing marginalized students on campus.
Before transferring to Berkeley, Foster attended Fullerton College in Southern California, where she served as student trustee during the 2022 to 2023 school year.
The college credited her with advocating for fellow students and helping organize voter registration drives. She was later honored as one of Fullerton’s 2023 Students of the Year.
Reflecting on her path at the time, Foster said that while a difficult childhood cannot be erased, a person can choose how they respond to it and grow from it.
An Outpouring of Grief and Gratitude
Underground Scholars described Foster as someone who gave countless hours of her time, encouragement, and support to students, staff, and the wider community. The organization said her warmth, humor, and compassion left a lasting mark on everyone who knew her.
In its tribute, the group wrote that her presence made the community better and that although her passing leaves a deep void, her impact and legacy will continue through the lives she touched.
Friends also shared memories of Foster on social media, describing her as someone who was always ready to help others and who never hesitated to stand up for what she believed was right.
One friend who organized the GoFundMe wrote that Foster’s caring spirit inspired those around her to be better as well.
Foster is survived by her young son and her loved ones. The Berkeley community has rallied around her family in the wake of her death, with many expressing condolences and support online following news of the crash.
Funeral arrangements and additional details about Foster’s life are expected to be shared by her family and the Underground Scholars community in the coming days.
