1. Bothell Feb 27, 2015
Letter of recommendation
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Paulette Costanza who is currently
seeking for job opportunities in the fields of geographic information systems (GIS), environmental
studies, and sustainable development.
I have been acquainted with Ms. Costanza since January 2012. She took my Environmental
Geography class in the Spring quarter of 2012 and my Advanced Geographic Information Analysis course
in the Winter quarter of 2013. Throughout the time I have known Ms. Constaza, I was impressed with
how she developed a genuine interest in issues related to geography, sustainability, and the
environment. Her passion for this kind of subjects became obvious immediately after classes started.
She was a very active and motivated student and positively contributed to the class dynamics not only
by asking and answering questions, but also leading class discussions and group projects. She showed
strong initiative and the ability to conduct research in a team with minimum assistance. For instance,
she led a small group of students in a research project related to the analysis of the impacts of humans
on the environment in the context of climate change. Her group project was one of the best in the class
and her group obtained the maximum possible grade. She also showed outstanding leadership skills and
capacity for problem solving. As my research assistant, she was able to synthesize large spatial datasets
and present that information not only in a classroom environment but also in academic conferences. It
is rare to find undergraduate students with this analytical level and commitment to her studies.
Paulette also took advantage of every learning opportunity. For example, she attended a
presentation where I talked about my research in the tropical Andes related to the impacts of climate
change on socio-ecological systems. Immediately after the presentation, she approached me to talk
about any opportunities to do research in this project since she felt that the outcomes of it will greatly
benefit local communities and the environment. She also wanted to get more hands-on experience
working with GIS and remote sensing. Given her performance in my classes and her positive attitude
towards experiential learning, I had no doubts in accepting her as a research assistant. Paulette assisted
me in this research and was awarded a Mary Gates Scholarship for her work in this project. This
particular type of scholarship is extremely competitive and is intended to enhance the educational
experiences of undergraduate students at the University of Washington while they are engaged in
2. research guided by faculty. She presented the results of the research at the UW and UWB
undergraduate research symposiums in May 2013.
Paulette finished her degree at the University of Washington Bothell and holds a BA in
Environmental Sciences with a focus on Sustainability and GIS. She graduated in the top 10% of her
class. She is currently looking for opportunities to reinforce her research capabilities and pursue a
career that she is really passionate about: sustainability and regional development. Therefore, I was very
pleased to find out that Paulette was actively looking for job opportunities in these fields. Paulette has a
tremendous potential in the field of environmental sciences and sustainability. I believe she will flourish
to her full capacity if she is given the opportunity to work in an environmentally conscious firm in issues
related to sustainable development and the environment. Theoretical and practical training these fields
are fundamental qualities that environmental professionals should have at the moment. Her
involvement in my project in the tropical Andes certainly helped her to obtain a more in depth and
critical understanding not only of spatial techniques and geography but also of the issues that societies
and the environment face in a globalized and interconnected world.
During the time that I have known Paulette, I can certainly assert that she is a very enthusiastic,
dynamic person with outstanding leadership skills. She is also an easy going and trustworthy individual
and capable of producing high quality work. I believe that Paulette would be an excellent candidate for
any position in the aforementioned fields and I strongly support her application. I am confident she will
be a great asset for your organization and an accomplished worker.
Should you require any additional information please do not hesitate in contacting me at
cslopez@uw.edu or at 425-352-3393.
Sincerely,
********************
Santiago Lopez, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Washington Bothell
School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
18115 Campus Way NE
Bothell, WA 98011-8246
(p)+001 - (425) 352 3393
