Harvard Griffin GSAS: Graduate Student Information

Resumes & Cover

Letters for
Master's Students

Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Mignone Center for Career Success | 54 Dunster Street
Harvard University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences
mcs@fas.harvard.edu | careerservices.fas.harvard.edu
© 2024 President and Fellows of Harvard College
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written
permission of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences Mignone Center for Career
Success.
07/24

Mignone Center for Career Success

Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Cambridge, MA 02138
mcs@fas.harvard.edu
careerservices.fas.harvard.edu
 Resumes and Cover Letters
for Master’s Students
What is the purpose of a resume?

A resume is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest
assets and skills and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. Remember that a strong resume is an
important step toward obtaining an interview. Tailor your resume to the type of position you are seeking. Your resume
should reflect the kinds of skills the employer values based on the role you’re applying for.

I’m planning on applying to several different types of jobs. Will I be expected to write different resumes for each
one?

It’s important to think about your reader. Let’s say you are receiving a master’s degree in data science and are applying for
roles in tech as well as generalist positions in big consulting firms. You will want to target each resume to the specific
employer. For example, employers in tech will be interested in relevant projects and experience analyzing datasets. Be clear
about how you developed those skills in courses or internship experiences. Consulting firms will be concerned with
leadership and teamwork skills; in that case, you might want to include more information about your involvement with
student groups, volunteer work, or internships. Resume writing can be difficult. MCS supports the responsible use of
generative AI as a tool to support your career and professional development. Learn more:
careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/channels/ai-for-professional-development-and-exploration/

A friend of mine, who is in business school, told me I need to have a one-page resume. Is that true?

For most master’s degree candidates, it is typical and often preferred to have a one-page resume. Normally two- page
resumes are acceptable if you are advanced in your career, have years of experience, or have a PhD. For BA/BS, MA/MS,
and MBA candidates, a one-page resume is the norm. When in doubt, ask one of the GSAS advisers.

Are there formatting guidelines I should keep in mind?

Stick to a common, easy to read font, and avoid text boxes, color, and shading. We discourage the use of templates. Font
size should be between 10 and 12 point and kept consistent throughout the document. Margins should be equal all the way
around the page and should be at least three quarters of an inch in size.

Can someone at the Mignone Center for Career Success review my resume?

Yes. Weekly resume review drop-in hours are available. You may also have your resume reviewed as part of an advising
appointment with a Harvard Griffin GSAS staff member (to schedule an appointment, visit our website and follow the
directions on Crimson Careers). Note that alumni in Firsthand Advisors also offer industry-specific resume critiques.

Am I eligible for the Campus Interview Program at Harvard? How does it work?

Master’s degree candidates in the Harvard Griffin GSAS are able to search for and apply to many Recruiting Program jobs
and internships, including some with campus interviews. Be aware that the Recruiting Program is primarily for entry-level
hiring of undergraduates. Employers will indicate in their job description and requirements section whether or not they are
willing to receive applications from Harvard Griffin GSAS master's students.

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 Consider describing your experiences with these action verbs:

Achievement Administrative Communication Creative Financial

accelerated arranged addressed authored allocated
accomplished channeled arbitrated changed analyzed
achieved charted articulated conceived appraised
activated collated briefed constructed audited
attained collected communicated created balanced
competed coordinated conducted developed budgeted
earned dispensed contacted devised calculated
effected distributed conveyed drafted compiled
elicited established corresponded established computed
executed executed delivered formulated controlled
exercised implemented demonstrated founded disbursed
expanded installed edited illustrated estimated
expedited maintained entertained influenced figured
generated offered interviewed introduced financed
improved ordered informed invented forecasted
increased outlined lectured launched projected
insured performed mediated originated reconciled
marketed prepared negotiated revamped tabulated
mastered processed persuaded revised
obtained provided presented staged Technical
produced purchased promoted updated adapted
reduced recorded proposed visualized adjusted
reorganized rendered publicized applied
reproduced served reported built
restructured serviced represented computed
simplified sourced responded Research/Analytical constructed
sold supported suggested assessed designed
solicited translated compared diagnosed
streamlined Lead/Manage wrote critiqued engineered
succeeded acquired defined experimented
upgraded administered derived maintained
approved Plan/Organize detected modified
assigned allocated determined operated
Help/Teach chaired anticipated discovered prescribed
advised contracted arranged evaluated programmed
clarified controlled catalogued examined proved
coached decided categorized explored reinforced
collaborated delegated classified found repaired
consulted directed collected inspected resolved
counseled enlisted consolidated interpreted restored
educated governed convened investigated solved
explained handled edited located specified
facilitated initiated eliminated measured systematized
guided instilled employed observed tested
helped instituted gathered predicted
instructed managed grouped rated
modeled motivated monitored recommended
participated presided organized researched
taught recruited planned reviewed
trained retained regulated searched
tutored reviewed scheduled studied
selected structured surveyed
shaped summarized verified
supervised targeted

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 RESUME #1: Tobin is seeking a position in fundraising and program coordination at a non-profit
organization. You will notice he focuses on fundraising, strategic thinking, research and grant management.

Tobin Fatin (He/Him/His)

Cambridge, MA • 801-555-5555
xxxx@harvard.edu • LinkedIn

EDUCATION
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
MA, Middle Eastern Studies May 20XX
Honors & Awards: Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) Foreign Language & Area Studies recipient, CMES Summer Grant
recipient

University of Nevada Las Vegas, NV

BA, Middle Eastern Studies, History, International Studies; Minor in Arabic May 20XX
Honors & Awards: Magna cum laude, Golden Key Scholar, Winner of Memorial Paper Competition

EXPERIENCE
The ADC Discrimination Committee Washington, DC
Development & Special Projects Coordinator February 20XX -Present

• Established fundraising goals, planned and administered quarterly fundraising campaigns, identified potential
sponsors and managed terms of support.
• Developed organization’s strategic plan and annual objectives with president. Executed entire plan.
• Facilitated outreach efforts with 30+ high school, college, government and non-profit groups; developed and
oversaw ADC’s monthly educational lecture series.
• Solicited donations by drafting proposals/appeals, maintained correspondence and negotiated terms of support.
• Managed and reviewed grant phases, and directed grant writer by communicating organizational needs.
• Oversaw Internship Program by reviewing applications, interviewing and selecting applicants, managing intern
tasks/complaints, and arranging intern orientation/field trips/brown bags.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) Washington, DC

Research Intern for the Program on Arab Politics June - September 20XX

• Drafted research memoranda for interviews and publications on subjects including human rights abuses in Syria,
rise of opposition groups in Syria, and parliamentary elections in Egypt and Tunisia.
• Monitored key regional political developments such as the rise of the Ennahda Party and ISIS.

Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) Washington, DC

Intern for the Center for the Study of Terrorist Radicalization (CSTR) May - August 20XX

• Researched for appearances and publications on subjects including: NGOs in Somalia, economic and political
instability in North and East Africa, radicalization in the Horn of Africa, and domestic counter-terrorism efforts.
• Reviewed and edited materials for Daveed Gartenstein-Ross’ publication Bin Laden’s Legacy.

Harvard University, Lecturer in Departments of Government & Economics Cambridge, MA

Research Assistant July 20XX - July 20XX

• Revised articles on topics including: identity formation, sectarianism, resource sharing groups and secularism.
• Reviewed and edited manuscript entitled: The Unmaking of Nation-States: Case Studies from the Middle East.

SKILLS
Technical: list, list, list
Languages: Levantine Arabic, Fluent; Modern Standard Arabic, Advanced; Persian, Intermediate
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 RESUME #2: Jose is applying for a data science position at a top tech firm. Since Jose’s most relevant experience comes
from their coursework, they include details on their projects in their experience section. The specific and detailed descriptions
are appropriate given the technical nature of the jobs they are applying to.

JOSE ROBERTS (they/them/theirs)

Cambridge, MA
(773) 999-4103 | joseroberts@harvard.edu | LinkedIn

EDUCATION
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
Master of Science in Data Science Expected May 20XX
Cumulative GPA: 3.83 /4.00
• Honors: 2018 Recipient of Harper Educational Foundation Scholarship
• Relevant Coursework: Stochastic Optimization, Data Science I, Systems Development for Computational Science

University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Spring 20XX
Cumulative GPA: 3.90 /4.00
• Honors: The GE Prize for Excellence in Mathematics (20XX), University of Notre Dame Mathematics Scholar (20XX)
• Relevant Coursework: Probability Theory, Stochastic Modeling, Real Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Data Mining,
Abstract Algebra, Differential Equations, Mathematical Statistics

RELEVANT ACADEMIC RESEARCH & PROJECTS

Harvard University Cambridge, MA
Spotify Song Recommendation Project Fall 20XX
• Trained random forest model to impute missing genre labels in Spotify’s song database (119,064 songs)
• Built recommendation system using cosine similarity to choose similar songs added to a given playlist

Harvard University, Data Science Capstone Project Cambridge, MA

Sentiment Analysis of Radiology Reports Fall 20XX
• Built NLP tool for detection of presence/absence of medical conditions in ~20M free-text medical reports deployed
via LSTMs in Keras.
• Achieved precision and recall levels of current industry standard of rule-based negations detections approaches.

University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN

Applications of Brownian Motion in Finance Summer 20XX - Spring 20XX
• Applied Markov chains and random walks in Black-Scholes formula and geometric Brownian motion in Finance
• Presented results to audience of 20 at annual mathematics meeting.

University of Notre Dame, Department of Mathematics Notre Dame, IN

Course Participant, Analysis on NBA Real Plus-Minus for 20XX-20XX Regular Seasons Spring 20XX
• Applied multiple regression to examine relationship between players’ performances and numerical variables.
• Built Python package implementing automatic differentiation.
LEADERSHIP
Harvard Square Homeless Shelter Cambridge, MA
Volunteer April 20XX-present
• Serve food to 50+ homeless on a monthly basis. Prepare food, set up tables and greet attendees

Peking University Chapter, Forum for American/Chinese Exchange at Notre Dame Beijing, China
Co-officer Dec. 20XX – Dec. 20XX
• Organized 20XX China Conference at Peking University, attended by 40 representatives from U.S. and China

SKILLS & INTERESTS

• Programming: Python (numpy, pandas, scikit-learn, pytorch), SQL, R, Bloomberg Terminal, MATLAB, Latex
• Language: Fluent in Korean and Chinese
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 RESUME #3: Hitomi is an alumna who sought a position in international business. You will notice she highlighted her
research skills as well as her project management skills and experience working with diverse audiences.

HITOMI LEE (She/Her/Hers)

Cambridge, MA
(617) 555-5555 | xxxx@harvard.edu

EDUCATION
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
MA, Regional Studies East Asia: Business and Economics Concentration May, 20XX

• Awards: Harvard Foreign Language and Area Studies Scholarship recipient, Summer Research Grant
• MA Thesis: The Failure of Regulatory Reform after the 20XX Beijing Stock Exchange Correction
• Relevant coursework: Econometrics, Upper-Level M.S. Mandarin, Economic History of the Far East,
Energy Business and Geopolitics

Smith College Northampton, MA

BA, East Asian Studies May 20XX

WORK EXPERIENCE
The Corporate Executive Board Arlington, VA
Senior Analyst Aug 20XX-present
• Managed over 20 projects across geographically dispersed team
• Analyze business problems for clients at Fortune 500 companies using root cause analysis, hypothesis
generation, and surveys. Conduct secondary research to supplement analyses
• Conduct interviews with and present research findings to senior executives and industry experts
• Create project deliverables including white papers, case studies, presentations, implementation tools,
e-learning modules, and website pages
• Supervise junior colleagues’ projects and development

Harvard University, Department of Economics Cambridge, MA

Teaching Assistant Spring 20XX
• Taught section of 30 students for the course: The Economics of Financial Markets
• 90% of students rated over 4.4/5.0 in course evaluations

Maguire Associates Concord, MA

Research Assistant, Market Research Division Oct 20XX-Apr 20XX
• Implemented and analyzed customized surveys probing strategic pricing,
messaging, and branding for a higher education consulting firm
• Collected, processed, and analyzed data; performed secondary research to inform results
• Prepared, data checked, and edited tables, reports, online surveys, and client presentations
• Provided focus group coordination and management for over 10 projects

Office of Institutional Research, Smith College

Research Assistant Northampton, MA
• Collaborated with senior research team to administer and interpret surveys Mar 20XX - May 20XX
• Assisted with data processing and coding/interpreting survey responses
• Created, proofread, and edited reports and presentations for Senior Staff
of the College

SKILLS
Computer: SPSS, STATA, Microsoft Access
Language: Five years studying Mandarin

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 RESUME #4: Michelle is seeking a position as a quantitative analyst in an investment bank. As such, she begins with
her business experience and financial analysis skills. She also makes her research understandable to the layperson while
emphasizing her analytical and communication skills. In addition, she is careful to highlight her student group
involvement in the Leadership section and identifies her programming experience in a separate Skills section.

MICHELLE LU
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 • xxxx@fas.harvard.edu • (919) 555-6666

EDUCATION
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
Master of Science in Computational Science and Engineering, GPA: 4.00/4.00 Expected May 20XX

Cornell University Ithaca, NY

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Distinction) and Economics (High Distinction) with May 20XX
Concentration in Financial Economics, Minor in Statistical Science, GPA: 3.90/4.00
Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, Dean’s List with Distinction & Dean’s List

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
XXXX Seoul Office Seoul, Korea
Summer Intern, Banking & Finance 1 Division June-July 20XX
• Collected articles on Woori bank and subsidiaries, presented research summary to team members and translated 200
pages of Samsung Fire Insurance Accounting Manual from Korean to English
Asset Management Co., Ltd. Ithaca, NY
Summer Intern, Fixed Income Strategy Team May-June 20XX
• Analyzed effects of macroeconomic news on global financial markets, designed tentative portfolios and assisted
traders in executing market transactions
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Cornell University, Mathematics and Economics Department Ithaca, NY
Financial Economics Researcher, Fellow PRUV (Program for Research for Undergraduates) Jan 20XX-May 20XX
• Analyzed 13-years of minute-by-minute price data of 8 individual stocks and examined correlation between
stocks and S&P 500 as proxy for overall market by developing method for measuring common jumps
• Delivered 20-min talk to math audience and published result in Journal of Economics, 20XX

Cornell University, Mathematics Department Ithaca, NY

Research Assistant Aug-Dec 20XX
• Investigated carbon assets trades in current carbon credit markets and applied Black-Scholes Pricing Model on carbon
credit options
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Cornell Math Union (CMU) Ithaca, NY
Guest Lecture Coordinator (2018), Math Meet Proctor (20XX), Member (20XX) Jan 20XX-May 20XX
• Organized 10 guest lectures and proctored high school students during annual Math Meet

Cornell University, Peer Tutoring Program Ithaca, NY

Intermediate Microeconomics Tutor (Spring 20XX) and Intermediate Calculus Tutor (Fall 20XX) Jan-Dec 20XX

Cornell University, Mathematics Department Ithaca, NY

Intermediate Calculus Help Room Tutor (Spring 20XX), Grader Jan 20XX-May 20XX

• Clarified calculus questions to students during 3-hour session held twice a week and graded weekly problem set

SKILLS
Language: Fluent in English and Korean, Reading knowledge in French
Computer: Python, Matlab, R, SAS, Stata, JMP, Java, Latex
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Cover Letter Template:
Note that in an email message, you would omit both your and the addressee’s contact information, as well
as the date. Simply start with the salutation.

Your Name
Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Your Email

Month Day, Year

Contact Name
Title (if known)
Organization Name
Street Address
City, State Zip Code

Dear (Name/Title):

Opening paragraph (why them?): Clearly state why you are writing. If applying for a job, indicate the
position title and where you saw it advertised. If you were referred to the position from someone within
the organization, or by someone the addressee knows, mention that as well. You may want to add a
sentence on why you feel you are a good fit for the position, what draws you to the organization, what
motivates you, or why you are seeking this experience as a next step in your professional journey.

Middle paragraph(s) (why you?): You should have one or two paragraphs that elaborate on how you
have developed the relevant skills required for the job, and any relevant experiences or education you
have acquired. Of equal importance is your argument for how your interest in both the job and the
organization developed. You will want to ensure that you include why it would be a logical decision on
their part to hire you.

Closing paragraph: Express interest in speaking with the addressee further in a personal interview, and
indicate that you will follow up within an appropriate time frame. Thank them for their time and
consideration of your application.

Sincerely,

Name (typed)

(Pronouns)

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Sample Cover Letter #1:
Yasmine is applying to paralegal positions to help her gain experience in the field of law. You will notice she
provides clear examples and references for how she can contribute to the organization.

Yasmine Young (she/her/hers)

54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 • (617) 555-5555 • yasy@post.harvard.edu

June 21, 20XX

Children’s Rights
330 Seventh Ave
New York, NY 10001

Dear Ms. Maeder,

I am writing to apply for the position of paralegal at Children‘s Rights. I learned of the position through a
posting at Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success. I received an M.A. from Harvard in May 20XX in East
Asian Regional Studies, with a concentration on modern Korean history and Japanese sociology, and received a
B.A. with a magna cum laude distinction from Smith College in 20XX in East Asian Studies and
American Studies. I believe working for Children’s Rights would provide an excellent opportunity for me
to become tangibly involved in the world of law, where I would be able to apply my knowledge and skill
sets into concrete practice.

Throughout my years of study at prominent educational institutions in the U.S. and Japan, I have
demonstrated an outstanding level of academic achievement and have shown a particular strength in social
science research that requires analytical and speculative approaches. I have been consistently engaged in
conducting long-term and short-term research projects, most of which involved meticulous investigation and
qualitative research - the experience that I believe would transfer well to the position of paralegal. My salient
past research experience includes a year spent in Tokyo, where I conducted extensive research and a series of
interviews in English and Japanese to examine the issues regarding gender roles and equality in Japan. Based
on the interviews and research findings, I successfully produced a paper that was selected for presentation at
a renowned academic conference at Smith College. For my master‘s thesis, I researched heavily in English
and Korean to examine today’s pressing immigration issues in South Korea. My thesis, according to a
prominent professor from Harvard, carries “the most extensive state-of-the-field analysis of multiculturalism
in South Korea [to date].”

In addition to my strong academic background, I have experience working for various not-for-profit
organizations where I have acquired skills in planning events, developing and managing organizational
programs, communicating with a diverse group of people, and administering logistics. For example, at
United Nations University Press (UNUP) in Tokyo, I worked closely with the Editor and Sales Coordinator
to organize the UNUP online publications database and communicated with various scholars and authors
regarding book recommendations. More recently at the Asian University for Women Support Foundation, I
assisted in coordinating large-scale fundraising events and writing grant proposals to help young women
from South and Southeast Asia receive quality education at the Asian University for Women in
Bangladesh.

With these qualifications, I am convinced I have the capability to provide the best assistance to your
attorneys in their practice of litigation. Thank you for considering my application and please let me know if
you would like further information regarding my candidacy. Please feel free to contact me at (617) 555-
5555 or via email at yasy@post.harvard.edu. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Yasmine Young
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 Sample Cover Letter #2:
Ginnie is applying online to a global consulting firm that recruits Harvard students but expects cover letters and
resumes to be uploaded to its website. As such, they use a formal business letter format, and indicate their preferred
offices.

For companies that recruit Harvard students, including those who use Crimson Careers to take resumes, it is not
necessary for them to say they will follow up with the recruiter the way they might with companies they find on their own.
However, they do indicate that they have spoken to a consultant and they express interest in continuing the
conversation about opportunities within the firm.

GINNIE LEE (they/them/theirs)

ginnielee@fas.harvard.edu

1212 Palm Blvd., #34 54 Dunster Street

Los Angeles, CA 90669 Cambridge, MA 02138
(111) 222-3333 (222) 333-4444

September 21, 20XX

Seth Kassenberg
Management Consulting, Inc.
123 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 00000
Dear Mr. Kassenberg:
Kamina Jackson suggested I apply for the associate position with Management Consulting, Inc. when I
recently spoke with her at your information session for Harvard University students at the Charles Hotel.
Please accept this letter as an application for the position of associate consultant with Management
Consulting, Inc. Based on my research of your firm and my qualifications, I am confident you will agree
that I am a good match for your organization. I will complete my master’s in Computational Science
and Engineering in May 20XX from Harvard University and look forward to the possibility of joining
Management Consulting, Inc.
My interest in a business career is long standing and is coupled with strong research, analytical,
communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. While exploring my passion for statistics during my
master’s degree, I have kept up my interest and knowledge of the industry through the business press. I
also have taken part in various business classes at Harvard. In one project, while working in teams of
four, we analyzed a case and presented recommendations to consultants. I received positive feedback on
my analytical abilities and teamwork skills, and I am confident I can make a significant contribution to
your firm and its clients.
I look forward to speaking to you about the possibility of my joining your team at Management
Consulting, Inc. I am most interested in working in your offices in Boston or Los Angeles as, through
my research, I have discovered that many of the firms these offices serve fit best with my area of
expertise. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

Ginnie Lee
(they/them/theirs)

9
 Sample Request for Informational Interview:
This e-mail message is not designed to accompany a resume as a job application, but rather to
request an informational interview to learn more about the field of not-for-profit consulting. As such,
Suzanne is careful to avoid asking for a job, or for anything other than the chance to listen and ask
questions about the alumna’s experience making the transition from academe to non-profit
consulting.

Dear Director Ramos:

I found your name through Firsthand Advisors and saw that you completed your master’s in East Asian
Studies before beginning your work as a non-profit consultant. I will be completing my master’s in East
Asian Regional Studies at Harvard next summer and am interested in learning more about how I might
use my background in non-profit consulting.

Working in the field of non-profit consulting is a career option that I have been reading and thinking
about for some time. I have had the opportunity to intern at two large non-profit organizations in the
Boston area and have spoken to a few former members of my department about their own decisions to
leave academe and use their skill sets in the private sector.

Would you be available to connect for 20 minutes in the coming weeks to share how you leveraged
your graduate degree beyond academia? I am available the week of October 9 if you have any
availability then.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Lilly
(She/Her/Hers)

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 Sample Thank You Letter:
Having completed a formal interview with this organization, Charles sends out a thank you
note within 24 hours. He sends it via e-mail, as the interviewer has indicated that the
organization intends to make a decision about his candidacy within a few days.

Dear Dr. Funahashi:

Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me yesterday morning about opportunities
with Global Education Associates. I am even more enthusiastic about the work you do now that I have
had the chance to learn more about it.

As we discussed, my experience at WorldTeach and my extensive international travel have instilled in

me the desire to foster educational opportunities worldwide, and to promote cross-cultural understanding
of educational methods and adapt them, as appropriate, in developing countries. I am particularly
interested in the Educating for Global Citizenship Program due to its commitment to meeting the
educational needs of the emerging global community by offering teachers, youth leaders, and
community organizers ways to comprehend and respond to the critical and creative task of educating the
world in the 21st century.

Thank you once again for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you further
about the contribution I could make to your organization.

Sincerely,

Charles Cestari

(He/Him/His)

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