October 26, 2011 Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Ms.

Andrea Derrick

To Whom It May Concern: Ms. Derrick has been employed as an academic assistant in the Math Resource Center at Alverno College for seven semesters (fall, 2008 through fall, 2011). As coordinator of the Resource Center, I have had the opportunity to observe her interaction with students and her mastery of mathematics. Ms. Derricks overall job performance has been exceptional. To be awarded an interview as a Math Resource Center academic assistant, students must be recommended to me by their instructors. Few students receive the honor, so it is worthy of note that I received multiple recommendations for Ms. Derrick based not only on her successful performance in mathematics and science coursework, but also on her professional conduct in the classroom. As part of her job in the Math Resource Center, Ms. Derrick is required to assist fellow students in mathrelated coursework from a variety of disciplines including mathematics, nursing, science, business, and other disciplines. The challenge for an academic assistant is to remain adaptable. Ms. Derrick is able to modify her tutoring skills to meet the needs of each student, work with individuals and small groups, and transfer her knowledge of mathematics to a multitude of disciplines and contexts. All of this was done in a walk-in math lab setting. It is to her credit that she is able to accomplish these tasks without advance notice of who will be requesting assistance with which subject area. Ms. Derricks most impressive talents are her abilities to apply her discipline skills to a variety of contexts and to approach problems from multiple perspectives. During my observations, I noted Ms. Derrick effectively modeled the inquiry process of science along with the algorithmic process of mathematics. She questioned students, encouraged them to test hypotheses, and offered multiple perspectives on the solving process. Tutees respond well to her encouragement and she is equally well-respected among her peer tutors. Ms. Derricks contributions to the Math Resource Center earned her the opportunity to attend the Wisconsin Mathematics Council Annual Conference as a student representative of Alverno College. Her involvement in the 2011 conference is an example of her commitment to learning and her desire to engage in professional discourse. I believe Ms. Andrea Derrick has the potential for significant contributions in the field of education. I hope you share my enthusiasm for her future success. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact me by phone (414.382.6028) or via email (lisa.degen@alverno.edu). Sincerely,

Lisa A.S. Degen Math Resource Center Coordinator, Mathematics Instructor Alverno College