I am writing this letter of promise on behalf of Catherine Holker, a former Graduate Assistant of mine who served the Seattle University International Student Center during the 2012-2013 academic year during her first year of graduate study in the Masters degree program in Student Development Administration. Prior to her time at Seattle University, Catherine was a Summa Cum Laude Graduate of St. Cloud State University in Minnesota where she was the 2012 Student Employee of the Year at the University. I have known Catherine for almost two years now and I have really enjoyed having her as a part of my staff team as a Graduate Assistant working both during our regular academic year and during the summer as a Program Coordinator for our two-week intensive Fukuoka University Japanese Exchange Program at Seattle University. In addition she technically still works in the ISC as an event monitor so she is still actively engaged in the Center.
When I think of Caties professional promise in the field the first thing that comes to mind for me is her passion for crossing boarders and working with international populations - this passion started long before she stepped foot on the Seattle University campus. She speaks both Spanish and French and she studied abroad in Chile while she was at St. Cloud State University, and she also worked as an Office Assistant and Tutor in the Department of Foreign Languages at St. Cloud where she worked one on one with Spanish students who were trying to learn English. Having direct experience teaching a foreign language is a direct skill that is truly transferable in the world of student affairs in higher education. I would imagine her direct contact with Japanese students on our two week exchange program has also made her a much more seasoned practitioner when it comes to understanding the unique qualities and characteristics of Japanese students.
When she worked for me she excelled at producing high quality work and she was a strong supporter of social justice issues at the University and she was always very patient in working with international students. She was someone who has a variety of great relationships with international students because of her strong listening skills and her ability to make strong connections with both groups and individual students within the broader international student community. Catherine is someone who is very passionate about her work with students and she invests the time and dedication needed to effectively make cross- cultural connections.
During our intensive two-week Summer Japanese Exchange Program in the Summer Catie was responsible for leading many educational workshops and group trips all over the City of Seattle. She worked closely one on one with each of the students on their English Language proficiency and she guided them on a number of visits to legal and business sites. She was highly regarded by the Japanese students in the program as someone who was patient, caring, and accessible.
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During her work in the International Student Center she also carried herself with a great deal of poise and presence for a graduate student and over the year our working relationship developed and I grew quite fond of her as a colleague. She had a strong work ethic and during her time in the Center she helped implement orientation programs, she ran our International Student Buddy Program (I-Buddy), she planned and implemented several social, educational, and cultural programs for students, and she oversaw student staff in the office as well. I think the most important aspect she brings to her work is an undeniable sense of being positive and hopeful.
I was very impressed with Catherines work ethic, intellect, and her development of new programs here at the Center. In addition to her work at the ISC I think one of the things that is important to point out about Caties promise is the breadth of experience she has gained in multiple functional areas. She has worked in International student life at SU and at a local community college and has great event planning and orientation experience, she has led student trainings and retreats, she has organize community service activities, she has worked in enrollment and registrar services at Bellevue College, and shes gained experience working within the Office of Public Safety at Seattle University, and in the end she found her passion in her work as a Fellow for Summer Search where she works with under-served youth that are planning on applying to college. She serves as an advisor to these students and in true Jesuit tradition has devoted herself to working with students at the margins of the US educational system. I am thrilled Catie has found her passion and I think the skills she has gained along the way can only improve her approach as a counselor and advisor to the high school students she is working with today that are striving to gain entry into college. I think if Catie continues to follow her passion she will quickly move up the organizational ladder at Summer Search.
Warm Regards,
Ryan M. Greene, M.A., Ed.M., ABD Director International Student Center Seattle University Division of Student Development