Wendy completed her master's degree while launching her children's book business and publishing two books. She did extensive independent study on marketing and developing a business plan, establishing her company SissyMarySue LLC and signing with a publisher. Wendy successfully launched her first book through social media campaigns and crowdfunding, holding over 20 book signings including 11 at Barnes & Noble where she often sold out. Her passion for educating and inspiring youth through empathy was evident. Her advisor enthusiastically recommends Wendy for her accomplishments and embodiment of qualities like empathy, commitment, and strength.

1. Recommendation for Wendy Muhlhauser By Lee Truer, M.A.
February 28, 2016
To whom it may concern:
I offer this letter of recommendation for Wendy Muhlhauser. I served as Wendy’s
advisor in the Human Development Graduate Program. It has been a real honor to act as
an advisor to Wendy. Where do I start with summing up Wendy’s graduate school
accomplishments? I confess to feeling a bit daunted by this task, even though I am rarely
at a loss for words. I hold a collage of images, in my mind of this brave person, this
fearless, complex and jewel like soul, I have had the privilege of getting to know through
this journey of new beginnings.
I am absolutely bowled over by the enormous amount of work that she has successfully
completed for her Human Development graduate degree. First, she launched an education
business named for her pen name. SissyMarySue LLC offers her books to encourage
play/drama for language learning, emotional competence, reading readiness and to bring
her books to life. She believes when youth embody the characters they learn more fully,
the feelings and concepts, she is teaching. During her program, she launched her first
children’s book “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” and completed a second book in the
“Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” series, which served as her Thesis. What she
researched and set into motion, would have been impressive for anyone, but even more so
when you add into the mix that she has done all of this work; while teaching, sending a
child off to college, living as a gypsy in order to finance her first book/business and last
but definitely not least, the challenges of being a person who has overcome traumatic
brain injury! It was a very ambitious, individualized program, she accomplished greatly
within.
Wendy’s passion and devotion to educating and inspiring youth to develop and use their
empathy skills is positively infectious and I believe that this has been the magic elixir
that helped her to draw in both the people and resources she needed to move forward
with launching her first children’s book. This same passion will continue to enable her to
launch her second book “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope –EMPATHY Airlines” and
others to come.
Wendy’s work was impressive during her master’s program! She did independent study
work on marketing her book and on developing a business plan, where she not only met
almost every goal, she went well above and beyond what was required in terms of both
the breadth and depth of her research. Besides establishing SissyMarySue LLC, she
signed on with Beavers Pond as her publisher, did a social media campaign and a
crowdfunding (Indiegogo) campaign. She successfully launched her book and enjoyed
five star reviews, national and regional signings, as well as, international exposure. I
believe she did over twenty total book signings, eleven were Barnes & Noble. She sold
out at many of the Barnes & Noble signings! She brought marketing interns on board –
and this is just a partial list of accomplishments.

2. I was especially struck by her description of how her team of marketing interns came
together, as it is a perfect example of both what a brilliant networker she is and also her
deep understanding of what makes for a good team experience. I was also struck by
Wendy’s willingness to take in constructive criticism and feedback. She credits living
with traumatic brain injury as teaching her that she can’t do it alone, but I also suspect her
deep empathy plays a part in her receptivity to others ideas.
I have many compelling memories and images in my mind about Wendy. In fact, I
remember very well the day Wendy told me she was leaving her home to finance the first
book print run and she was going to be a gypsy for a while. I was stunned – awed and
also anxious for her. What she was doing is, was and always will be, pushing the
envelope but this was either brilliant or crazy or maybe both in one, or so it felt to me.
And yet when I sat with it, I was clear that – one, what Wendy sets her mind to no one
but Wendy can stop her from doing and two, if anybody could make this work, Wendy
could and would. And of course she did make it work. I recall a special meeting at a Thai
restaurant with Wendy talking about her undying admiration for Walt Disney and about
her desire to serve youth and our world, through her new education business . And I
remember looking at this small somewhat delicate looking woman and thinking by God
is she ever strong, determined and full of pioneering spirit.
Wendy would share in email about her experiences while on the road. I remember one
with Wendy beaming in a photo at one of her Barnes & Noble book signings and later
talking about it with me. She said something to the effect of, “I moved the chair from out
behind to in front of the table – how silly to have it behind how can people approach me
to interact, if I am cut off from them.” Then on about the young girl she befriended and
how she helped her out and what a treat that was for them both. How she interacted with
the girl’s mother and the rest of her family. This engagement with life, this touching of
lives, this is empathy in action is the “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” story as Wendy
writes and lives it.
In conclusion, Wendy in her Graduate work has embodied just the qualities she seeks to
encourage in youth through the vehicle of her books and business – empathy,
commitment to community and largeness of heart. As a result, I enthusiastically,
recommend Wendy Muhhlhauser, with sincere delight!
Sincerely;
Lee Truer M.A.
Graduate Advisor, Lee Truer M.A.
Cell-612-208-1166
Saint Mary’s University
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404