1. DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
901 South National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897
Phone: 417-836-5511 • Fax: 417-836-5523
www.missouristate.edu/history • history@missouristate.edu
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution
August 30, 2016
To Whom it may concern:
This letter is to provide James Drewery with a general recommendation for employment. During
the Fall, 2013 semester Mr. Drewery worked for me as a Teaching Assistant in History 122 (US
Since 1877). There were two sections of the class, one seated, one online. During that time Mr.
Drewery and I worked closely together which provided me numerous opportunities to observe
his work in two different settings. He did an outstanding job in both cases.
Overall I found Mr. Drewery to be very mature, highly motivated, and self-directed. For
example, when the semester began he was not very familiar with Blackboard so on his own
initiative he took at least one Blackboard training class. By the mid-point of the semester he was
tactfully offering me good advice on how to use Blackboard more effectively.
His main duty in both classes was grading and here I found him to be quick, reliable and
consistent. He required very little direction, we met to create the essay questions, discussed what
we expected in the answers and he dove right in. While grading if he had a question he asked.
When I reviewed his work I was very pleased with both the depth of the comments and the
accuracy of his grading. He is comfortably among the top 10 of Teaching Assistants I have
worked with in my 25 years at Missouri State.
It is impossible to speak directly to his “fit” for any particular job in a general letter such as this
but what I can say that might be helpful to you is that I believe Mr. Drewery has the skills, the
maturity, the motivation, and the ability to do very well in a wide variety of jobs. I would
happily work with him again and I urge you to give his application serious consideration
Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Dicke
email:TomDicke@MissouriState.edu
Ph 417-836-5746