Recommendation for Wendy Muhlhauser By Lee Truer, M.A.

February 28, 2016

To whom it may concern:

I offer this letter of recommendation for Wendy Muhlhauser. I served as Wendy’s advisor in the Human Development Graduate Program. It has been a real honor to act as an advisor to Wendy. Where do I start with summing up Wendy’s graduate school accomplishments? I confess to feeling a bit daunted by this task, even though I am rarely at a loss for words. I hold a collage of images, in my mind of this brave person, this fearless, complex and jewel like soul, I have had the privilege of getting to know through this journey of new beginnings.

I am absolutely bowled over by the enormous amount of work that she has successfully completed for her Human Development graduate degree. First, she launched an education business named for her pen name. SissyMarySue LLC offers her books to encourage play/drama for language learning, emotional competence, reading readiness and to bring her books to life. She believes when youth embody the characters they learn more fully, the feelings and concepts, she is teaching. During her program, she launched her first children’s book “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” and completed a second book in the “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” series, which served as her Thesis. What she researched and set into motion, would have been impressive for anyone, but even more so when you add into the mix that she has done all of this work; while teaching, sending a child off to college, living as a gypsy in order to finance her first book/business and last but definitely not least, the challenges of being a person who has overcome traumatic brain injury! It was a very ambitious, individualized program, she accomplished greatly within.

Wendy’s passion and devotion to educating and inspiring youth to develop and use theirempathy skills is positively infectious and I believe that this has been the magic elixir that helped her to draw in both the people and resources she needed to move forwardwith launching her first children’s book. This same passion will continue to enable her to launch her second book “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope –EMPATHY Airlines” and others to come.

Wendy’s work was impressive during her master’s program! She did independent study work on marketing her book and on developing a business plan, where she not only met almost every goal, she went well above and beyond what was required in terms of both the breadth and depth of her research. Besides establishing SissyMarySue LLC, she signed on with Beavers Pond as her publisher, did a social media campaign and a crowdfunding (Indiegogo) campaign. She successfully launched her book and enjoyed five star reviews, national and regional signings, as well as, international exposure. I believe she did over twenty total book signings, eleven were Barnes & Noble. She sold out at many of the Barnes & Noble signings! She brought marketing interns on board – and this is just a partial list of accomplishments.

I was especially struck by her description of how her team of marketing interns came together, as it is a perfect example of both what a brilliant networker she is and also her deep understanding of what makes for a good team experience. I was also struck by Wendy’s willingness to take in constructive criticism and feedback. She credits living with traumatic brain injury as teaching her that she can’t do it alone, but I also suspect her deep empathy plays a part in her receptivity to others ideas.

I have many compelling memories and images in my mind about Wendy. In fact, I remember very well the day Wendy told me she was leaving her home to finance the first book print run and she was going to be a gypsy for a while. I was stunned – awed and also anxious for her. What she was doing is, was and always will be, pushing the envelope but this was either brilliant or crazy or maybe both in one, or so it felt to me. And yet when I sat with it, I was clear that – one, what Wendy sets her mind to no one but Wendy can stop her from doing and two, if anybody could make this work, Wendy could and would. And of course she did make it work. I recall a special meeting at a Thai restaurant with Wendy talking about her undying admiration for Walt Disney and about her desire to serve youth and our world, through her new education business . And I remember looking at this small somewhat delicate looking woman and thinking by God is she ever strong, determined and full of pioneering spirit.

Wendy would share in email about her experiences while on the road. I remember one with Wendy beaming in a photo at one of her Barnes & Noble book signings and later talking about it with me. She said something to the effect of, “I moved the chair from out behind to in front of the table – how silly to have it behind how can people approach me to interact, if I am cut off from them.” Then on about the young girl she befriended and how she helped her out and what a treat that was for them both. How she interacted with the girl’s mother and the rest of her family. This engagement with life, this touching of lives, this is empathy in action is the “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” story as Wendy writes and lives it.

In conclusion, Wendy in her Graduate work has embodied just the qualities she seeks to encourage in youth through the vehicle of her books and business – empathy, commitment to community and largeness of heart. As a result, I enthusiastically, recommend Wendy Muhhlhauser, with sincere delight!

Sincerely;Lee Truer M.A.

Graduate Advisor, Lee Truer M.A.Cell-612-208-1166Saint Mary’s University2500 Park AvenueMinneapolis, MN 55404