1. Fitchburg State University
June 9, 2016
Ms. Debra Bettencourt is in the top 1/2 percent of all students I have worked with in my 31 years of
academia and professional work in a variety of educational area and has requested that I write in support of
her application to your exceptionally fine institution. I am deeply pleased and honored to do so. I have
known Ms. Bettencourt for 2 years and have no doubt in my mind that she has the talent, research skill, and
professional poise to contribute and enhance any program or organization. She is one of the most eager and
intense students I have ever had the honor to work with as an educator or professional.
She has been and continues to be a uniquely sensitive, extremely disciplined, organized and provoking
individual who has led engaging discussions in my classes and who is able to assist peers in analyzing
material and draw truthful and original insights from them. Her research work is thorough and her ability to
engage her peers with a strong, professional, yet human perspective is unique.
Ms. Bettencourt is an exceptional young educator. Her focus is keen and she craves and thrives on
criticism. I have not a single doubt but that she will accomplish her career goals. Her positive outlook on
life is infectious and brings joy and light to all who work with her. She LISTENS deeply and takes
direction and applies it thoroughly. Her appreciation for and drive to serve anyone with maximizing their
potential is truly remarkable. She does not seek to HELP but to ASSIST and GUIDE. This is an extremely
mature insight that is core to her work.
I also appreciate her humor and personality. She does not get down on herself but pushes through adversity
with a bright outlook for the future. Her humor has often brought relief to stressful situations. She is a
hungry young professional. She does not seek to imitate others for success but to find and evolve her own
creative educational voice.
I have had handful students over my many years of teaching that revealed themselves to be truly
exceptional human beings. Ms. Bettencourt is one of them and if my daughter could grow up to be the type
of woman Ms. Bettencourt has become, I would pass away a rich man.
There is no doubt that Ms. Bettencourt will gain much from working with your staff and this letter is in no
way one of those letters you often receive that sugarcoats candidates by their mentors. She is what I state
her to be and more. She will be a talent and intellect that will surprise and excite you and above all, you
will feel differently about your own craft and self for having worked with her. I would recommend to you
no student that I feel would diminish your reputation.
I share this recommendation having professionally served as Chair of the Cultural and Creative Studies
Department at The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, Member
of the Deaf Studies Committee at FSU where I have taught graduate Deaf Culture course and
undergraduate Disability Studies courses. I am very selective about providing letters of recommendation for
it reflects on my name. My word is my bond.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Morgan, Full-Professor
Communications Media Department
978-665-3555 (Office)
978-618-3185 (Home)
kmorgan@fitchburgstate.edu
160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420