Recommendations: MARISA TJERANDSEN

Marisa Tjerandsen (pronounced "chair-and-sen") is the former Assistant Director for Student Involvement at the GWU Student Activities Center, and was my direct supervisor on the GW Program Board.

To Whom It May Concern:

Over the past few years I have observed Tyler Coffey as an active contributor to The George Washington University (GWU) community. He has been appointed to several leadership positions, all the while maintaining an exemplary balance among school, work, and life outside the classroom. Thus, it is with great confidence that I offer my support for his post-college professional pursuits. For the purposes of this recommendation, I will focus on his successes with Program Board, as the skills he demonstrated as the Executive Chair are directly applicable to a work environment.

Program Board (PB) is the largest student run programming organization on campus. Tyler, because he was known as a hard working, dedicated member of PB, was appointed to several PB positions before eventually being elected Chair. Leading the PB organization is one of the most challenging and visible positions available to students. The organization is comprised of numerous committees and staff members each of whom are supervised by Tyler. His responsibilities as Executive Chair also include overseeing a substantial budget, developing new programming, and running weekly Executive Board meetings. He has handled each of these areas with great poise and maturity. Program Board has flourished throughout this academic year, with both new and traditional programming.

Beyond the day to day operations of Program Board, Tyler has also been the liaison between the University and PB. This can be a challenging reality for students, as they often have to walk the fine line between respecting the University staff and fighting for what the students want. Tyler has maintained excellent relationships with both sides, despite the occasional differences.

Finally, I believe that it is worth noting that being the Executive Chair of Program Board exposes Tyler to frequent differences of opinion, which naturally occur when working with a group of strong leaders. This can be a difficult task, as different personalities and ideas converge. But despite the inevitable clashes around him, Tyler has always been viewed as a likable, dedicated team player. He has a knack for keeping his eye on what is best for the organization.

If you have any additional questions about Mr. Coffey, please feel free to contact me. I would be more than happy to elaborate on the content of this letter or to offer additional support for his application.

Sincerely,

Marisa Tjerandsen