To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to present my qualifications as an applicant for the position of Gender-Based Violence Prevention Coordinator at Virginia Tech. I was pleased to hear of this opportunity via a colleague at your institution. My qualifications for this position include the following:
Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel, expected May, 2014 Bachelors of Arts Degrees in: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Psychology [May, 2012] Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to issues related to gender, including gender based violence Experience in development and delivery of educational programs and events in a higher education setting Awareness of and sensitivity to issues of difference and intersectionality related to gender-based violence Ability to work independently or as a part of a team in a diverse work environment Experience facilitating education on gender based violence, including bystander intervention programs Experience with crisis intervention, informal counseling, and case management
My educational background and my experience working for social justice in a variety of functional areas within student affairs and higher education prepares me to fulfill the duties of this position. In my current position as an academic advisor I work independently and in concert with our office team to aid undecided first year students as they learn to navigate a University setting. As an advisor, I rely heavily on counseling skills in my daily interactions with students, faculty, staff, and other constituents across campus. I also rely on excellent communication skills and organizational ability to effectively document and manage my caseload of advisees independently, maintain confidentiality, and make appropriate referrals when necessary. In my previous positions as a student employee and then graduate assistant in Womens Centers on University campuses, I had the opportunity to put theory learned in my degree fields to practice in my work to advance an agenda of gender equity, which includes the elimination of gender-based violence. In these positions, I gained experience with the development and delivery of educational programs on issues related to gender- based violence for a variety of audiences, on a variety of scales, and with different resources available. As a result, I am able to play an active leadership role in the development and delivery of such programs campus wide at Virginia Tech to meet the needs of a unique and diverse student body and campus culture.
My history of demonstrated commitment to working within higher education to advance the status of women, including using education as a means of preventing interpersonal violence, makes me a strong candidate for this position. Within my first months on campus as an undergraduate student I became involved in organizing efforts to educate my peers on issues related to gender-based violence. In the seven years since, I have sought opportunities to develop the counseling and crisis response skills necessary to offer support to survivors of interpersonal violence. I have also sought the understanding of social dynamics and knowledge of pedagogical techniques needed to effectively educate others as a part of successful gender-based violence prevention strategies via academic, professional, and volunteer opportunities. The knowledge and experiences I have pursued, detailed further in my resume, has served to strengthen my abilities to be an effective advocate for social justice, particularly related to gender-based violence.
These are just a few of the ways that my previous experiences prepare me to fulfill the responsibilities of this position and excel in my work as the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Coordinator at Virginia Tech. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this position and my qualifications with you further. In the meantime, if you have any questions or require further information regarding my application, please contact me at k-mey@wiu.edu or (314) 943-2164.