To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Kata Traxler, and I am a Resident Director at Loyola University Chicago. I write
this letter in support of Caressa Nguyens promise as a professional in higher education. I have
supervised Caressa for the past eight months at Loyola University of Chicago in the Department
of Residence Life. It is with confidence that I say Caressa is ready to be a Student Affairs
professional, and I am interested in seeing how she furthers her contributions to the field as her
career progresses.

Caressa keeps the wellbeing and development of students as one of her top priorities. In
Caressas first year, she served as the Assistant Resident Director for the smallest first-year hall.
She was then given the challenge of being the Assistant Resident Director for a large, multi-
building, upperclassmen area for her second year. Besides the typical challenges that accompany
working in an area with multiple buildings, Caressa also had to adjust to the needs of a
completely different student population. During this second year, Caressa has taken on high-level
conduct cases. Caressa also serves as a Title IX Investigator and a research assistant, in addition
to her rigorous academic course load.

One area that Caressa really puts focus on is the individual development of students. She values
teamwork and leadership skills. Caressa creates intentional relationships with students. Caressa
also has had the challenge of involvement (or lack thereof) in hall council this year. She has had
to be very strategic and creative in getting upperclassmen to be interested and involved in this
initiative. While there has not been a lot of interest in hall council this year, Caressa has still
rallied those residents that do contribute and assisted them in implementing programs for
Winthrop Area residents.

Another area that Caressa is talented in is student conduct. She connects to residents on a
personal level, and assists them in understanding the complete impact of their actions. Caressa
balances the wellbeing of the entire student with assigning learning outcomes that will best assist
the student in changing their behavior. Caressas genuine belief in and support for restorative
justice allows students to trust her and take her perspective seriously.

In conclusion, Caressa Nguyen will be a proficient Student Affairs professional. Her knowledge
of theory, focus on student development, and genuine care for others will all be assets to her
future career in higher education. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at: 773-
508-3703 or email me at: ktraxler@luc.edu. Thank you for your time and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Kata Traxler, M. Ed.

Resident Director, Loyola University Chicago