Latin American and Latino/a Studies

50 Phelan Ave., Ocean Avenue Campus, Office S-186, San Francisco, CA 94112 (415) 239-3126, FAX (415) 239-3954

November 12, 2009

Selection Committee
New York University

Dear Selection Committee,

Ms. Evelina Barckute has informed me of her application to the Ph.D program in Political Science at the University of
California at San Diego. It is my pleasure to recommend her as a candidate to your selection committee without
reservation. Ms. Barckute who took my Political Problems of Latin America course, during the fall 2008 semester, is a
self-supporting serious scholar who impressed me with her desire to learn about the status and history of Latinos/as in the
United States.
Evelina was always prepared and her participation in classroom discussion showed her wide range of interests and her
abilities as a critical thinker. Her prodigious efforts and academic discipline made her one of my best students earning an
A in my class. Ms. Barckute keen analytical abilities and her powerful communications skills enriched class discussions.
Evelina greatly contributed to the classroom environment and supported her peers in their learning process leading small
group discussions and other course-related group assignments.
Furthermore, she impressed me with her ability to theorize out the transnational Latino/a experience and write a final
assignment that explored the transnational experiences of Lithuanians in the United States. In her essay, she showed an
incredible capacity to make theoretical and empirical connections in a way that showed her intellectual abilities and her
advanced training in Lithuania. I was furthered impressed by her final assignment for her B.A. in political science at
Vilnius University titled: The Issue of Pursuing Sustained Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case of the
Millenium Development Goals. In this essays she demonstrates a strong analytical edge exploring the intersections of
development and underdevelopment, foreign assistance and globalization through the case of the Millennium program.
Based on this writing sample, I strongly believe that Ms. Barckute will be a very successful as a Ph.D student.
Based on her CCSF academic performance in my course and a sample of her work as a university student in Lithuania, I
have formed strong opinions about her competency, character, commitment, and potential for further training and study.
Stated succinctly, Evenlina is disciplined and has repeatedly proven to be pragmatic, tenacious, and honorable in her
efforts Due to her proven abilities, I have no doubt that Ms. Barckute will continue to succeed. She manifests integrity and
honor in all her endeavors. She has the intelligence, sensibility and thoughtfulness to be an excellent scholar. Please give
her the strong consideration she justly merits. I enthusiastically recommend her to your university.
Sincerely,

Marco A. Mojica
Instructor
Latin American & Latino/a Studies
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MILTON MARKS, PRESIDENT; DR. NATALIE BERG, VICE PRESIDENT
DR. ANITA GREER, CHRIS JACKSON, JOHN RIZZO, STEVE NGO, LAWRENCE WONG, ESQ.
DIANA MUÑOZ-VILLANUEVA, STUDENT TRUSTEE
DR. DON Q. GRIFFIN, CHANCELLOR