1. We Protect Lives.
April 29, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
As the Director of the STD Office at the Georgia Department of Public Health, I’d like to extend my highest
recommendation to Mr. Jamal Jackson. While I have had a number of InternsVolunteers pass through my office over
the last several years, Jamal has stood out from the very start when his resume came across my desk. Though I had
already selected all my department’s interns for the year, I can remember commenting to my colleague, ‘If Mr.
Jackson is as impressive in person as he is on paper we’ll have to find a spot for him’; and he was… Not only did I
find Jamal easy to work with and personable but he has a love for health and business that fuels his work ethics from
the inside out.
During his tenure Jamal quickly became the go to person for many of my department’s projects. It was soon common
knowledge that seeking his expertise on a project typically ensured thorough, accurate, and timely completion of that
project. Additionally Jamal’s knowledge base was expansive and he was able to add substantial value to my program
through his contributions. Personally, he is goal oriented, great at setting appropriate and obtainable objectives, and
a strategic planner all of which I’m sure will take Mr. Jackson far in his future endeavors. That said, in addition to the
high level of expertise Jamal brought with him, one of the things that suppressed me most is the level of
professionalism with which he conducted himself. Although he was functioning in the capacity of an InternVolunteer,
I never once viewed him as anything other than a fully functional and capable member of my staff. The
professionalism Jamal exhibited gave me every confidence in him and as a result I was able to increase the
presence of the STD office in the community; because I was more than comfortable sending him out as the sole
reprehensive from my office, we were able to have a presence at community outreach events where we otherwise
would not have.
Though I could go on recounting the many ways his presence benefited the STD office, I’ll close saying this—Jamal
would be a tremendous asset to any organization that is lucky enough to have him. It was my immense pleasure to
have worked with him and I wish him the best all future endeavors. I would also like to as a professional Jamal has
remained in contact with me and continues to provide community service as needed. He has also earned an
advanced degree in his area of study. Which demonstrates is commitment to personal growth and development.
Please feel free to contact me at 404-463-2579 or by email at michelle.allen@dph.ga.gov if needed.
Kind Regards,
Michelle L. Allen, State STD Director
