Sophie Zumout Resident Director Department of Residence Life

1032 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL 60660 (312) 915-6704

Lisa Rogers Letter of Promise

I have had the pleasure of knowing Lisa Rogers since July 2013. Over the last two years I have

interacted with Lisa in several different capacities. During the first year of Lisas graduate

assistantship, we worked closely together on a departmental committee charged with planning all

trainings and continued development opportunities for all student staff members. I have since had

the privilege of serving as Lisas direct supervisor for the 2014-2015 academic year as she has

served in the Assistant Resident Director position within the Department of Residence Life.

One of the first things that I noticed about Lisa was her quiet disposition and hardworking nature.

Unlike many of her peers, Lisa is not showy or boastful in her approach to her work but rather a

silent leader that leverages her professional competence with humility and grace. She is not

someone that prescribes to the busy-syndrome often praised or rewarded within graduate

programs and the profession as a whole, but rather lets her work speak for itself. What stands out

about Lisas leadership style and strength as a student affairs educator is that she is not apologetic

for being authentic. Her level of self-awareness about her strengths and her areas for growth is

impeccable. She maximizes on her strengths and works with others collaborate and learn in order to

demonstrate growth in other areas. Lisa maintains a calm and grounded approach to her work and

interactions with students, peers and colleagues alike. Her professional exterior remains unruffled

regardless of the situation yet she never lacks approachability, empathy and the appropriate amount

of emotion that keeps her grounded and relatable in the way in which she approaches the multiple

facets of the student affairs profession.

Over the course of the year I have witnessed Lisas confidence and self-efficacy grow. I have

admired her commitment to cultural competence and social justice and have witnessed her ability to

infuse it in her work regardless of the situation at hand. Her approach to working with others comes

from a place of listening and seeking to understand an individuals lived experience and story. Lisas

person-centered approach has allowed her to thrive this year in her work with students specifically

those experiencing transition, crisis and conflict. Her ability to listen without judgment allows her

to be a true resource and support system for students. Lisas interactions with students in multiple

capacities has allowed her to incorporate relevant theories from her course work into her

interactions with students and student staff in a manner that is intentional without being prescribed

or scripted.

When I think about Lisas promise in the field of student affairs, I cant help but think about the

plethora of ways in which she is going to impact the profession and to some degree, I struggle to

identify and pinpoint what her true niche is. I have no doubt that she will be an incredible

professional and have the utmost confidence in her abilities to challenge and support the students

with whom she interacts. While these soft skills are what our work is founded on, I am confident

in her ability to also be an administrator. I believe that her pragmatic skills such as organization and

time management will allow her to thrive in the multiple directions that student affairs professionals

are pulled.

As an emerging leader in the field of student affairs, I am confident in the type of professional that

Lisa will be and I look forward to the impact of the ripple of effect that will happen as a result of

her work. I am thankful to have been on her academic, professional and personal journey!