March 27, 2016

Loyola University Chicago

School of Education, MEd. Higher Education Program
820 N. Michigan Ave, Lewis Towers 11th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing on behalf of Monica Cano, an individual I am proud to call my friend and
colleague. I have had the privilege of working alongside Monica during my tenure
at Loyola University Chicago. I write this letter today to attest Monicas ability to
represent Loyolas Masters of Education Higher Education program. Her
commitment to social justice, leadership, and student development make her a
strong candidate in the higher education field. Furthermore, Monicas diverse
experiences, including study abroad, inclusion, access, and service, provide her with
a breadth of knowledge and skills that will no doubt lead to her to become a
successful student affairs professional in any setting.
Having taken a majority of our courses together, I am confident that Monica has
achieved the pillars of our higher education program of leadership, social justice,
research, communication, and analytical inquiry. In the classroom, I am always
impressed as to how Monica is able to apply the course concepts to real life
situations in the higher education world and her ability to make insightful
comments. Monica and I have also worked together on multiple group projects,
including a research proposal and multiple Engaged Scholarly Discussions, over the
course of our program. In these projects, Monica has shown natural leadership skills
and the ability to have difficult conversations eloquently. As a partner, she provided
support when I needed it and picked up the pieces in areas where I fell short. The
knowledge and skills she has gained from this program will provide her with the
toolset to succeed in any higher education setting.
Monicas abilities and skills in the classroom also apply to the professional world. As
colleagues at University of Chicagos Booth School of Business part-time MBA
programs office, I have witnessed Monica as a professional. Her diligence and
adaptability contribute to the success of our office. Having also known Monica
outside of the office and classroom very well, I can confirm her passion for student
affairs. For the past one and a half years I have known Monica, she has taken on six
different professional positions. Her desire for growth and learning does not end in
the classroom, and I know that she will continue this practice as she enters the
higher education world.
I am confident that Monicas empathy, adaptability and intercultural skills will make
a great contribution to the higher education field. She has a passion for working
with students and creating spaces for them to discover their own identities in the
social justice lens. Her development as a higher education professional will only
continue after this program, and I look forward to seeing how her work positively
impacts student affairs in the future.
Sincerely,

Samantha Ng
Loyola University Chicago