This Letter of Recommendation was written by Dr. Nejem Raheem, from Emerson College, for my admission to the University of Leeds Sociology PhD program
Dear Admissions Committee,
I am writing to recommend Savannah ‘Ava’ Burcham, who is applying to your Sociology PhD program. I have known Ava for over a year now, first meeting her when she took my advanced seminar, Behavioral Economics, as a senior at Emerson College. We also worked together as I helped her with some edits on her application to graduate school. For what it’s worth, I’m going to say that Ava is fantastic.
The behavioral course is a dual-enrolled senior and masters student seminar, in which we tackle fairly challenging readings from economics, psychology, and human evolution. Students also work on an applied policy project, suggesting ways to affect behavior change on a particular topic. Ava impressed me with her grasp and understanding of the material, ending up with an A. I really got a sense of her drive, though, when she came to me to discuss her applied project. That semester I worked with researchers and government agencies to provide a set of topics for students to choose from; raising awareness of the spotted lanternfly in Massachusetts, getting dive operators in the Galapagos to use a shark tracking app. Ava wanted instead to look at teaching methods professors could use to equalize and encourage participation across genders. I didn’t know Ava, and was skeptical. Usually students don’t do this kind of thing well. Not only did she produce an impressive piece of research, she demonstrated a strong work ethic, an ability to implement her strategy as she presented her research to the class, an unusual understanding of independent research, and real concern for diversity and equality.
Ava’s project demonstrated her desire to enter academia and sociology before I ever knew her post grad plans. We don’t often get students interested in pursuing careers in academia at Emerson; we’re more pre-professional. When we do, it’s a bit surprising, and I have talked a few people out of pursuing doctorates. Ava is built for it. She’s patient to the point of stubbornness, bright, hard-working, cooperative, and inventive. She can tolerate uncertainty and can organize herself and her program. She cares about teaching and learning in addition to any topical material. She sees the light at the end of the dark and sometimes dismal tunnel, and in fact seems to like the tunnel more than a little.
Ava is a pretty impressive student—excelling in my course, designing her own interdisciplinary major, managing a full (and sometimes overloaded) school schedule, working part time, participating in multiple on-campus organizations, and receiving high praise from other professors. But she is also quite aware of and excited for the growth she needs. In the US and at Emerson we can specialize in producing arrogant students, but Ava has more humility than most. While I think she could probably develop more confidence, at least in how she speaks about herself, it’s nice to not have to tone that down, but rather up. The same semester I taught Ava, she was applying to the masters program where she is currently enrolled (University of Leeds). She recognized that she needed some help on the application, and sought my advice. She showed me an already well-thought out draft, and willingly accepted and implemented feedback, without losing sight of her original voice and aspirations. I tell you this to point out that Ava takes criticism and suggestions well, and responds to them quickly. That’s not an easy lesson. She understands collaboration and respects the work of those who came before her, but still seeks to make her own mark. Her statement of purpose ended up a nice example of clear, memorable, intelligent writing.
When I first met Ava, she knew what she wanted and hoped for her future, but she lacked the confidence to really believe in all I could see she could achieve. Over the past year and a half, I’ve watched her grow in confidence and really start to do the work to become a promising young academic. I know you’ll be proud to have your name after hers when she’s done. I look forward to watching her grow into her own, and to keeping her as a friend and colleague for years to come.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any further details.
Nejem Raheem, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics
Emerson College Dept. of Marketing Communication