Omatayo Jogalashi, Nigeria

July 31st, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

As a former “student” of his, I felt quite honored when Carlton Rounds asked me to write a recommendation letter for him.

Carlton is someone for whom I have boundless respect and admiration. Over the past two years, I have gotten to know him first as the coordinator of an exchange program in which I participated and more recently as a trusted friend and personal mentor. He is insightful, culturally aware and inspires the best from all around him.



Perhaps nothing demonstrates these qualities more than our very first encounter, when Carlton impressed me to the point of inspiration. It was a phone conversation in which I was seeking more information about International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE), the month long course in human rights and social transformation for which Carlton was one of two coordinators. Before speaking with him, I was tepid about the program, only vaguely interested. During our conversation, he was very straightforward and would not make room for any of my excuses or ambiguity. He also spoke about the program from such a stimulating level of thought and cultural awareness that I knew, just from the conversation, that I had to participate. I remember commenting to a friend afterwards that he made me feel like I should “straighten up and fly right.”

The issue of finance had been one cause of my ambiguity about participating in IHRE but Carlton, being the resourceful person that he is, drew my attention to sources of funding both through my home institution and through Bard College, the host of IHRE. All challenges were met and I participated in the program, journeying to Cape Town, South Africa, with about 70 other international students and with Carlton as our guide.

The program gave me an opportunity to further get to know Carlton. I watched him excel at responsibilities made even more complex by the international setting. I became familiar with an aspect of his leadership style that is empathetic and considerate. I observed how we as young people connect with him because he speaks our language.

Since the summer of that program, I have maintained an active friendship with Carlton. He has mentored me through so much including graduate school applications and countless issues of identity as a young woman coming into her own. For example, when I felt pressured by friends because of issues surrounding my bisexuality, Carlton helped me understand that I don’t have to “represent” anyone but myself, which is difficult enough.

I could continue with examples of Carlton's many other good qualities— his creativity, his charm and his commitment to name three. Instead I would simply like to say how much I think of Carlton and how strongly I recommend him for any position that involves serving young people.

Respectfully,
Omotayo Jolaosho
Doctoral Student
Rutgers University