(814) 865-6574

FAX: (814) 863-8685

Emil L. Cunningham, PhD Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Director The Pennsylvania State University
208 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1503
November 22, 2017

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions

Rutgers University
Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration

Dear Application Committee:

It is my pleasure to offer a letter of recommendation for Ms. Natasha Bailey, who is currently
applying for acceptance to the Rutgers University – Master of Public Administration at Rutgers
School of Public Affairs and Administration (MPAA). Having known Ms. Bailey for going on
five years, first as a supervisor and advisor and more recently as a colleague and engaged
community member, I am confident that Ms. Bailey will prove to be a wonderful addition to
your program.

Over the years I have encountered many hopeful graduate student prospects who profess to have
a drive and a desire to want to become further educated. Some have made haste decisions in
choosing their ultimate degree while others, who are more thoughtful, take great time and care to
consider what program is right for them. I have noticed that those who take the necessary time to
choose wisely, accurately contemplate whether the intended program will meet their current and
future needs as well as whether they can endure the academic rigor of the program while being
successful. I am pleased to note that Ms. Bailey has taken latter path and has chosen the MPAA
program with great enthusiasm and caution. During my conversations with Ms. Bailey while she
was a student at The Pennsylvania State University it became evident to me that she was an
individual who would succeed both when challenged and given the opportunity. I can recall
fondly mentioning to her that she should pursue a graduate program and that such a program in
my field would be one that would welcome her and her experiences and would also be one that I
believed she would thrive in. Much to Ms. Bailey’s credit, she was more thoughtful about what
she wanted to pursue in her career and I am pleased that she has identified your graduate
program as one that would not merely provide her with an advanced degree, but instead a
program that would allow her to hone her current skillsets such that it would create a career path
she would be excited and eager to traverse. Having worked her way up through her organization
from the status of a Program Coordinator to a Community Engagement Manager, Ms. Bailey
exudes and is the epitome of an individual who is committed to the field of public service. One
need only look at her resume to acknowledge that the “Part-Time” work she is engaged in, while
continuing to complete her primary work responsibilities, are evidence enough of her
commitment to this field of study.

Since Ms. Bailey’s time with me during her undergraduate years, she has always shown
leadership skills, critical thinking ability, and an emotional intelligence quotient which provided
her with the mental acuity to identify problems and subsequently collaborate with others to
develop tangible solutions. It is because of this that I believe the MPAA program’s learning
outcomes map well onto Ms. Bailey’s current skills. Specifically the outcomes of “lead and
manage in public governance, – participate and contribute to the policy process, analyze,
 (814) 865-6574
FAX: (814) 863-8685

Emil L. Cunningham, PhD Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Director The Pennsylvania State University
208 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1503
synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions, – and communicate and interact
productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry” speak directly to capabilities
that I am confident Ms. Bailey has and will further develop providing she has the opportunity to
be a student within your program. In considering the road to Ms. Bailey’s academic, personal,
and professional success, I believe her strengths in her ability to step up when necessary to be a
leader, her willingness to ask for help and support when needed, as well as her intellect, attention
to detail, and thoughtfulness will prove to be beneficial as she navigates her way through the
MPAA program. I am confident that Ms. Bailey, upon successfully enrolling in the online
module of the MPAA program, will be able to manage her time, will be successful in meeting
and preceding deadlines, and will prove to be exceptional in juggling the complexities of work
and school while being successful in both fields. I have no weaknesses to offer of Ms. Bailey’s
future success in your program, and as such I have no doubt that should you make the decision to
welcome her as a student into your program, she will do tremendous things to make both the
MPAA program and Rutgers University, as an institution, proud. It is with all of these sentiments
and more that I humbly offer my letter of recommendation for Ms. Natasha Bailey for
acceptance to your MPAA program. Thank you for your time and consideration, and if I can be
of any further assistance in her application process, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Emil L. Cunningham, PhD