Ms. Knight provided continuity for the Purdue University Student Health Services business office during a search for a new business manager. She prioritized issues accurately, had excellent problem solving skills, and communicated supportively with department managers. Ms. Knight helped resolve questions that previous management could not and made recommendations that enhanced operations. She took initiative to address a long-term staff problem, arranging meetings with HR. Ms. Knight made a significant difference in how the business office was viewed and the support provided. She brought issues forward and offered solutions. The director recommends Ms. Knight without reservation and believes her skills will be an asset to any organization.

1. Reference letterforTerryKnight
I am writingthisreferenceletterbasedonmyexperience withMs.TerryKnightoverthe past
eightmonths(November,2014 throughJune,2015). Ms. Knightwasassignedtothe Purdue University
StudentHealthServicesbusinessoffice toprovide continuityduringthe searchfora new business
manager. Ms. Knightwas immediatelyinundatedwithrequestsforassistance fromthe various
departmentmanagerswhohadbeenwithoutanin-houseresource forapproximatelyamonth. Three
thingsbecame clearto me very quickly: Ms.Knightprioritizedissuesaccurately;she hadexcellent
problemsolvingskillsandshe communicatedtothe managersina consistentandsupportivemanner.
Ms. Knightsteppedinandresolvedquestionsthatmanagershadbeenunable toresolve withthe
previousbusinessmanager.
Ms. Knighthas the abilitytopayattentiontodetailsandmake recommendationsthatenhanced
the department’soperations. She came to me regarding90 daysalary reviewsandthe standardsthat
were usedthroughoutthe university,butnot atthe StudentHealthService. Ms.Knightidentified
problemswiththe completionof time cardsandhelpedusimprove ourprocess. Ms.Knightparticipated
indepartmentmanagermeetingsandsharedinformationwiththe managersina timelymanner.
Withoutpromptingfromanyone,Ms.Knighttookona longtermstaff problemwithmembersof the
billingstaff. She tookthe initiative tocontactthe Human ResourcesDepartmentandarrange a meeting
to addressthe staff problemwiththe billingmanagerandthe HR representative. There have been
several staff meetingstoreview andevaluate the progressmade inaddressingthe communication
issuesthathad plaguedthe department. Inaddition, Ms.Knightprovidedthe billingmanagerwith
supportto ensure thatthe plansfor improvingthe communicationandthe interactionswere
maintained.
Duringher time atthe StudentHealthService Ms.Knightmade asignificantdifferenceinhow
people viewedthe businessoffice andthe supportprovidedto the staff andmanagers. She waswell
thoughtof by the staff and whenhertemporaryrole came to an end,staff was genuinelysorrytosee
herleave. IfoundMs. Knightto be an exceptionallycompetent,knowledgeable anddedicated
employee. Ivaluedherabilitytobringissuesforwardandoffersuggestionsforresolutionof problems.
I believethatMs.Knightwill be a tremendousassettoanyorganizationwithwhomshe associates. I
recommendherwithoutreservationandwiththe recognitionthatherskillsare exemplaryandmuch
soughtafterin the workplace.
Respectfully,
Gail Walenga,Ph.D.
Director,StudentHealthandCounselingServices
Purdue University
601 StadiumMall
WestLafayette,IN 47906