George Toth, Kellner Scholar, Hungary

August 1, 2006, Iowa City, Iowa

To Whom this May Concern,

This letter is to serve as a recommendation of Carlton Rounds for his application for a position at your institution.

I first met Carlton in summer 2001, when he came to Budapest, Hungary, to meet the student who had just received the Kellner Scholarship to Bard College, New York. I was one of the new scholars, and Carlton impressed me as not only as a highly competent professional, but also as a person who you could turn to with any and all questions. Carlton gave an on-the-spot orientation to us, some of whom had never been to the United States, much less study at an American college. It struck me as unusual that even in casual conversations Carlton went far beyond what his position required of him to do: it was obvious that he was passionate about helping us navigate American culture and academia in a way that was liberating.



Since that day I have worked and spent time with Carlton in various capacities: for one year as a student assistant at Bard’s international programs office, for two years as a volunteer cultural advisor and organizer at the college’s exchange program with Central European University, for a year as the president of my old scholarship’s alumni association - and he has become a friend to me. The reason why I discovered my passion for international education and cross-cultural work is called Carlton Rounds. This man has worked across nationalities, cultures, races, genders, religions and sexualities. It speaks to his skills and personality that I as a straight young man from Eastern Europe have chosen him as a mentor and a role model. His ability to understand problems, his tact in exploring them with his students, and his incredible skill at presenting them with liberating options in their lives are unparalleled. He is used to navigating cultural and social norms while helping young people to understand their identities – identities that often run counter to those dominant norms.

Carlton is the sort of candidate who is in high demand. Not only does he have professional expertise, but he puts his heart in his work. I have never known a more motivated person in his fields. Carton moves mountains, and if your institution wants to do transformative work, you will want him for the position.

Gyorgy Toth
American Studies PhD Program,
University of Iowa
319-335-0346
3035 Clover Street
Iowa City, IA 52245
Gyorgy-toth@uiowa.edu