1. March 4, 2015
Dear Search Committee Members:
I am delighted to recommend Troy S. Benowitz for a teaching or administrative position in your ESL
Program. Since 2004, Mr. Benowitz has served as a French and Spanish tutor (developer and instructor of
guided independent studies) at the Watertown and For Drum sites of SUNY Empire State College, a branch of
SUNY that serves adult students with individualized programs. This has been just one of his many jobs. He
has been a textbook developer and content writer in the Philippines, an ESL, Composition, and Creative Writing
instructor in the U.S., Korea and Japan, and has extensive experience in online teaching and curriculum
development.
At Empire State College, Mr. Benowitz developed his own course curricula. An adjunct for our college, he has
a full-time position as lead faculty member in an online ESL program. His duties in the online program
including hiring, supervising, training and managing staff, developing curriculum, and working directly with
students from many different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
He is an excellent teacher, knowledgeable, well organized, and student-centered. He has genuine intellectual
curiosity, a sense of humor, and appreciation of diversity. With an MFA in Creative Writing and Translation
and Linguistics, he has a strong academic background as well.
I believe Mr. Benowitz is uniquely well qualified to teach in and/or direct a language program and will prove a
genuine asset to you. If I could offer such a position at my Empire State College location, I would hire him
myself.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions I might be able to answer.
Sincerely,
Maureen Kravec, Ph.D.
Mentor/Coordinator, Watertown Unit
Watertown Unit · E121-122 Extended Learning Center · Jefferson Community College
1220 Coffeen St. · Watertown, NY 13601-1882
Phone 315-786-6541 · Fax 315-786-2411 · www.esc.edu