2011 03 25 COMMEND "Richard Grego" LETTER

Letter of Reference

• March 25, 2011
• To Whom It May Concern:
• I am pleased to write this recommendation on behalf of Bart Christner. As an Associate Professor and President of the Faculty Senate at Daytona State College, I have been the beneficiary of Mr. Christner’s professional assistance and encouragement on a number of levels since we both began our careers at Daytona State College five years ago. His intelligence, innovativeness, consideration, and camaraderie have been invaluable not only to my professional success here, but also to the academic success of this institution’s other faculty, students, and projects.
• His contribution to establishing student initiatives and opportunities, from photographic internships with the local newspaper, to many student activities on campus, for instance, has been instrumental to the quality of student life here. Moreover, his creative drive can be described, without exaggeration, as having had an indelible positive effect on the productivity of the colleges academic life, and was enormous. His foreign projects (establishing academic programs in Ireland and the Dominican Republic), his development of innovative online courses for the Digital Media Program (as well as his original course contributions to this program in general), and his invaluable assistance with an incredibly diverse range of academic projects (from Dr. Ron Morrison’s recently published work on the 1960’s to various Symposia sponsored by the Center for Interdisciplinary Writing and Research), were essential to the growth of Daytona State College in countless ways and on many levels.
• However for me personally, Mr. Christner’s greatest asset to the College has been the spirit of professionalism, dedication, and good-will that has made him both a pleasure to work with and an inspiration to his colleagues. Because of the enormous amount of personal time and energy he has devoted to this community, our students have benefited immeasurably. His rare talent for informal rapport, skillful mentoring, and professional collegiality has made this institution better for both students and faculty, and it is this kind of rapport that sets Daytona State College’s educational experience apart from less student-centered schools. Perhaps most importantly, Mr.Christner’s professional counsel, mentoring, and selfless service, whenever he has been needed, have made him not only a valued colleague, but also a trusted friend to his peers and to the community at large.
• We learned of his departure with very deep regret, but take solace in the assurance that his potentials will flourish any institution fortunate- enough to employ him. He is an exemplary colleague and person, and will undoubtedly benefit your community as much as he has benefitted ours.
• Sincerely,
  
• Dr. Richard Grego, Associate Professor
• Philosophy, Religion, Cultural History
• Department of Social Sciences
• Daytona State College