Potsdam Pathways General Education

9 Feb 2023

To Whom It May Concern:

I write in support of Dr. Sarah Sirsat’s application for tenure and reappointment.
It has been a distinct pleasure to get to know Dr. Sirsat through her work on the
Potsdam Pathway General Education Curriculum Committee (PPCC). Her work
ethic is exemplary and her professionalism is admirable. She also brings a
cheerful demeanor to even the most chaotic of situations, which is much
appreciated.

Dr. Sirsat serves as the Connecting Clearly: Communication in the Major (CM)
liaison for the PPCC. Her duties include being the primary point-of-contact for
CM files and a general reviewer for all files submitted to PPCC. CM is
complicated by a twofold need: students must have opportunities to practice clear
communication in a disciplinary field as well as receive explicit instruction in
how to do that communication. Dr. Sirsat has been abundantly patient and
clearheaded with departments as they work to develop courses that do both those
things. I can only hope the departments she has worked with are as grateful for
her efforts as PPCC is.

Dr. Sirsat has begun development of a WAYS course focused on her expertise on
chickens. We are so excited about the possibilities of this course and expect that
our students will be, too. If she brings that level of expertise and enthusiasm to all
her Biology courses, then her students are fortunate indeed.

I wholeheartedly support her application for tenure and promotion and wish her
all the best.

Sincerely,

Christine M. Doran, Ph.D.

Director, Potsdam Pathways General Education
dorancm@potsdam.edu
44 Pierrepont Ave.
Potsdam, NY 13676
www.potsdam.edu