Dear Hiring Committee:

March 10, 2016

I am writing to recommend Andrea MacMeans as excellent candidate for teaching positions in the Tucson area. I am the
Senior Director of Leadership Programs, where I oversee the Blue Chip Leadership Experience in which Andrea has been a
member since 2012. The Blue Chip Leadership Experience is a 4 year co-curricular leadership education experience, which is
designed to engage students in the process of learning and practicing leadership for social change. Andrea has taken 10
credits of Leadership; Foundations of Leadership, Arts Leadership, Peer Leadership, and Leadership Internship and
Preceptorship, and she served a Blue Chip Student Coordinator, an Ambassador, Team Leader (2014, 2015), Social Justice
Retreat Leader (2015) and Teaching Assistant (2015). She has also participated in a Case Study Competition, several
internships, and social justice training as part of the program.
Andrea is one of my most involved students, so I have spent a lot of time working with and alongside Andrea. I would
highly recommend her to be a teacher in your district. I have had the opportunity to see Andrea lead her peers, teach first
year students, and professional present in front of parents and students. Andrea is very dedicated and passionate about
teaching; making sure she is learning how to be a better leader and teacher through community work and social justice
trainings.
Because of her dedication and service to the program and her peers, she won the 2015 Blue Chip Service Core Value Award.
This is awarded to someone who demonstrates an understanding that its not about you, its about us. and that leaders
care about people and seek to enhance the lives of those around them. She was nominated by several of her peers and the
staff and this is what they had to say:
Andrea has stepped up this year and is always around to volunteer to help at every Blue Chip event, even with her busy schedule being off
site at a school. She doesn't wait to be asked to help, she always asks us to help first, she just seems to know when we need her!
Andreas heart is one-of-a-kind and her care for others truly inspires all of us."
Andrea just finished her second time as a Team Leader. I was excited to have Andrea in this role again, because she is
responsible, which is one of my number 1 considerations for this position. Being a Team Leader is the best example of her
being able to teach and work with others. Team Leaders mentor the first year students in Blue Chip for a semester on teams
of
15 students, teaching weekly leadership curriculum and motivating them to step up as leaders at the University of Arizona.
Andrea has always excelled at this role because of her ability to connect with others and be genuine, while also balancing
the professional mentor and facilitator aspects.
In Blue Chip, we value integrity, excellence, diversity, and service. As a member of the Blue Chip, Andrea has taken these
values to heart with her commitment to serving others through her work here and at her schools, and learning about the
diversity of our community and the community around her through experiences of engaging social just education and
advocacy. She has learned the skills of public speaking, facilitation, conflict management, etc.; but most importantly she has
become a critically aware and socially just leader that is responsible, caring, and creative.
I have been working with students for 15 years, and it is students such as Andrea, that I look forward to meeting again in
the professional community post college, because of their passionate commitment. If you have any further questions about
this applicant please contact me.
Sincerely,
Tina Wesanen-Neil
Sr. Director of Leadership Programs
tneil@email.arizona.edu
Blue Chip Leadership Experience|| National Collegiate Leadership Conference || Leadership Courses for Credit
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