Center for Leadership & Service

MS 8-3
PO Box 98000
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800

March 1, 2019

Dear Seattle University Student Development Administration Program,

This letter of promise is in support of Thomas Bui who has been a stellar student affairs professional at
Highline College. Joining our unit immediately after receiving his undergraduate degree from Seattle
University in 2014, Thomas brought rich experiences as an involved student leader and as alumni of the
NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program. Combined, these experiences and intentional mentorship began
to prepare him for a career in student affairs. Thomas has elevated this understanding while a graduate
student and a higher educational professional at Highline College. He is intentional in exploring ways to
apply his learning into his current role and also taking his role at a community college into the classroom
centering marginalized student communities.

Thomas came to Highline with a good understanding of power, privilege, oppression and Tara Yosso’s
Cultural Wealth Model. At Highline, Thomas has shaped others’ understanding for this and has deepened
his own as he honed in on intersectionality, identity development, and equity in Higher Education. As
diverse as Highline College is, Thomas needed to expand his understanding and reshape elements of
training to center diverse student communities as the norm where more students experience
marginalization than privilege. Thomas’s ability to honor lived experiences, share intellectualized
concepts, and grow and challenge himself in his understanding of identity, leadership, and organizational
transformation is promising as he continues to advance in his career. I believe he is prepared to work at
predominately white institutions and also minority-serving institutions.

Thomas has held two roles in our office. First as a Program Assistant for Multicultural Affairs and currently
as the Clubs Programs Leadership Advisor in Center for Leadership and Service. Each year his responsibility
has increased; assuming new leadership and duties within our unit. At times this was a result of his keen
ability to anticipate the needs of his team and supervisor and at other times it was a direct ask from me.
He provides direct oversight for our Leadership Programming Team, leads Center for Leadership and
Service department meetings, and serves as interim supervisor to student teams wihout current
supervisors. Our organizational structure doesn’t reflect the evolution of the current scope of his work and
the role he has within our team. Functionally, his day to day workload reflects that of an Assistant Director
for Center for Leadership and Service. He comes to work every day with a smile, is optimistic when faced
with challenges and he quickly adapts to the needs of our department.

There is an ease that comes with supervising Thomas who is talented, culturally aware, savvy with all
technology, highly adaptable, and open to learning. He is humble yet confident in his competencies and
grounded in a way that centers his daily presence within our center. While introverted, quiet and calm, his
presence in our space is always felt and appreciated. He can take the spotlight and knows how to shine
the light on the right people at the right time. He leads with balance, integrity, and mutual respect. I am
100% confident in Thomas at all times and have a high level of trust that Thomas will represent the field of
student affairs and our department with excellence.

www.highline.edu
phone fax web
(206) 592-3536 (206) 592-3752 http://cls.highline.edu
As a student affairs professional he is highly respected among our campus community and sought out
often for collaborations, committee work, and as a facilitator. The relationships he builds with students,
peers, and colleagues is both authentic and strategic in facilitating a student-centered program and
services. Thomas is community oriented and remains connected and involved with regional and state-wide
Vietnamese organizations holding various leadership roles. In many ways, Thomas is just like our students.
He balances and integrates academics, family, cultural traditions, social life, work, community
involvement/service with the increasing responsibilities that come with successful career advancement. It
is no surprise that Thomas is by far a favorite among many.

I have a high amount of trust with Thomas and am able to have candid confidential conversations with
him that not only impacts his work but also expands his awareness of higher education as a whole. As an
introvert, he has expanded the ways he processes by asking questions at the moment demonstrating the
level of inquiry and foresight needed to incorporate this information into his practice. He is committed to
understanding and retaining the information needed with policies and procedures. He is timely, efficient
and reliable. Thomas is my go-to person within Center for Leadership and Service.

Thomas now has had a quality education, meaningful mentorship, and a variety of professional
experiences that undoubtedly have shaped who he is as a student affairs professional. He is prepared to
apply for Associate Director and Director positions within our field. As he continues his journey in student
affairs my hopes for Thomas is to continue to grow in his comfort level in providing constructive feedback
to colleagues. He is highly respected and his feedback is heard loudly. Additionally, Thomas is ready to
take the teachings of mentors, educators, and family to the next level. To implement, interpret, and
analyze from a deeper level of understanding and confidently express in his own words. Thomas has
shown promise in our field since the day I met him and today I feel just as strongly about his present and
his future in our field.

Respectfully,

Iesha Valencia
Director, Center for Leadership & Engagement
Center for Leadership & Service & Multicultural Affairs Unit
ivalencia@highline.edu
206-592-3257