February 24, 2017

Award Selection Committee

The Graduate School
212 Bowne Hall
Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244

Dear Members of the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Selection Committee,

Following my nomination by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (LLL), I am writing to apply for
the Outstanding Teaching Assistant (TA) Award. I am a Masters Candidate in the Linguistic Studies Program set to
graduate this May upon completion of my comprehensive exams and thesis defense. I also hold a Masters degree in
French and Francophone Studies from Syracuse University that I received in May 2016. I believe myself to be a strong
candidate for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award not only due to my dedication to my students and department, but
also to Syracuse University at large in my various roles as teacher, student and Army ROTC Cadet.

Prior to applying to Syracuse, I was teaching English in Strasbourg, France. I was told by a professor at my alma mater,
Saint John Fisher College, that I could attend Syracuse University and get a Masters degree in French for free if I agreed
to be a Teaching Assistant. With an undergraduate degree in French and Adolescent Education, I jumped on the
opportunity. Teaching at the collegiate level presented a new challenge that I was ready to take on. I have now taught four
unique courses with varying levels of independence and leadership roles over the past three years, and I am a stronger and
more effective teacher than ever before. All the while, I have been able to maintain a high GPA in both of my Masters
degree programs and rank in the top 10% nationally of my fellow Army ROTC Cadets as a Distinguished Military
Scholar.

It is important to note that language TAs at Syracuse University function differently than those in other departments. We
serve as the primary instructor for the courses we are charged with and operate with enormous independence in our
teaching. Outside of being provided a syllabus, we are responsible for all lesson planning, teaching and evaluating within
our sections; we are often the only face of the French department for our students. Additionally, I was given the role of
Lead Instructor three semesters in a row - a position created for the first time when I was chosen for it in Fall 2015. As
Lead Instructor, I was in charge of a team of TAs and Part-time Instructors who taught the other sections of my course. It
was my responsibility to meet with them regularly in order to develop a team atmosphere, act as the go-between for them
and the Language Coordinator, and create assessments that met our departments learning objectives. Though my
background in teaching gave me more confidence than some of my fellow TAs, this was an immense amount of
responsibility for a graduate student who was also trying to balance their own studies and extracurriculars.

Thankfully, I received excellent mentorship within and outside of the LLL department that allowed me to continually
grow in my teaching. Support from the French Language Coordinator and other instructors in LLL helped me gear my
teaching towards our goals for language proficiency. Through participation in the Graduate Schools Future Professoriate
Program, later resulting in my Certificate of University Teaching in 2016, I developed myself as a professional teacher in
the world of academia. Lastly, as an Army ROTC Cadet training to commission as a Second Lieutenant this May, I am
trained to be the best leader I can be on a daily basis through my participation in our rigorous and demanding preparatory
program. Though challenging at times, I believe my students, coworkers and faculty would all agree that I have been able
to find a balance in the past three years that never ceases to prioritize my students needs. I can often be seen writing a
letter of recommendation for a past student, tutoring a current student on the intricacies of French syntax or emphatically
encouraging students to study abroad in whatever capacity then can.

It is my pleasure to share my teaching portfolio with you and I thank you for your consideration of my nomination. If you
are in need of any further materials or recommendations on my behalf, please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Blowers