March 17, 2015

Dr. Mark Engberg

Loyola University Chicago
Lewis Towers
820 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Dear Dr. Engberg,
I am delighted to share with you my thoughts and experiences about Amy Weatherfords
professional growth and bright future in the higher education field.
I hired Amy as the Enrollment Advisor for the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
(MNSON) in 2010, and her impact on their graduate programs enrollment was
immediate. As the Enrollment Advisor, Amys main responsibility was to advise
prospective students and to encourage qualified students to apply to MNSON programs.
The position requires solid customer service and communication skills, political
savviness, and flexibility. Amy is a quick learner, a thoughtful contributor, and a selfdirected employee, so she was capable and excelled in the position.
During Amys time in MNSON the school underwent enormous changes to their graduate
programs and processing procedures. Quite frankly, the graduate programs in MNSON
were a mess when we hired Amy. She not only had to learn all of the graduate programs
(which are complicated and nuanced), but she also had to spot holes in the process and
make recommendations for improvements. She learned the MNSON culture and was able
to make important suggestions for changes to processing and operations. The associate
dean, academic advisor, and Amy created structure and systems where before there was
only chaos and mismanagement.
Most anyone can memorize program requirements and FAQs, but not everyone can
communicate with authenticity and excitement what it is like to complete a graduate
program. Amy can. This is why during her tenure applications to nursing graduate
programs increased by 16% and the quality of applicants improved as well. She was a
trusted resource for prospective students and a sought-out voice of reason among the
nursing administration. She has a discerning eye for what she can resolve and what may
need to involve others to resolve. During her tenure in the position she gained confidence
and resolved almost all issues on her own with little input from me (except for an FYI).
The Enrollment Advisor position is not easy because of the reporting structure: you
report to Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management (GPEM), but you must meet
the needs and expectations of the school for which you are recruiting. For an Enrollment
Advisor to be successful, he or she must be self-directed and aware of many bigger
picture issues in the school, GPEM, and the University. Amy provided feedback on
policies, changes to marketing and communication plans, and new initiatives. She was
supportive of her colleagues in MNSON and GPEM. She managed to work with and be

seen as a reliable partner among prospective students, faculty and staff, and upper
administration.
During her time in GPEM, Amy and I spoke often about her career path and goals. I was
excited for her when she took her current position in academic advising and look forward
to her continued contributions to the Loyola community and beyond.
Sincerely,
Ann Talbot
Director, Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
Loyola University Chicago