Appendix A: Invitations and support letters from YU and CUE
A1. Invitation from Yeungnam University (YU) in Gyeongsan, South Korea
A2. Endorsement from Sungsoo Hwang, Assistant Professor, YU Department of Public
Administration
College of Community and Public Service
Grand Valley State University
Dear GVSU,
I am writing, with my great pleasure, to state my personal experience to have Professor Mark Hoffman as
a mentor when I was an international student and later on as an international scholar in the U.S.
He played a great role in helping a struggling international student growing into a capable junior scholar. I
first met him at a conference called “Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) in
2004. His mentorship and our friendship started from a simple exchange of name cards and requesting
PowerPoint files. We continued to meet in the following conferences and I began to rely on him shaping
my dissertation research proposal as he possessed expertise in the area of research that I wanted to pursue.
Writing a dissertation is a big deal to any graduate student but more so for international students studying
in the U.S. Mark graciously accepted my request to be an outside committee member to give a formal
help. Mark was especially helpful in the early (and critical) stage of dissertation proposal as he was
willing to read rough drafts and engage in the conversation with me.
Later on, he helped me to start my career when I applied for a post-doc position in SPNA, GVSU in 2008.
It was incredible experience for me and that contributed a lot to secure a tenure-track faculty position at
the Yeungnam University, in my hometown in 2009. During my time at the GVSU, Mark and I became
great friends. We co-authored a couple of research products (an article and a book chapter), and enjoyed
numerous social gatherings together. He invited me to his network of friends there so I benefited from
getting to know a group of good people there, professionally and personally. I have also witnessed him
kindly interacting and mentoring international students and scholars during that time.
I truly enjoyed my stay at the GVSU and I am extremely happy to play a part in inviting Mark to spend a
semester at the Yeungnam University. It will be a great benefit to have him here for my students and
colleagues, as my university proceeds steadily to be more global.
Respectfully,
Sungsoo Hwang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration,
Yeungnam University
A3. Invitation from Cracow University of Economics (CUE) in Krakow, Poland.
A4. Endorsement from Kamil Makiela, staff, CUE International Programmes Office
Appendix B: Letters attesting to my role as mentor / advisor to international
students
I had the privilege to know Prof. Mark Hoffman during my graduate studies at
Grand Valley State University. He was my academic advisor who helped me in
designing the plan of my MPA program. As an international student, I found
him a great mentor with a remarkable understanding of my cultural background
and needs. Actually, he was one of approachable friends that I used to seek their
assistance to overcome cultural and academic barriers that I faced.
In addition, I enjoyed being in his useful GIS class. He encouraged me and other
international classmates to participate in the class discussions. This kind
attention and support generated a valuable learning atmosphere in the class. As
such, my MPA experience at GVSU was really rewarding and enjoyable
journey.
Abdulrahman AlHeshesh
GVSU MPA 2009
Abdulrahman_ah@hotmail.com
Cell Phone +966.504.31.9250
P. O. Box 2340
Najran, Saudi Arabia
College of Community and Public Service Personnel Committee
Grand Valley State University
Michigan, US
This recommendation is in support of Mark Hoffman who acted in the professional capacity of a mentor for me
during my academic session of 2000-2001 at GVSU.
I, the under signed Yogesh Jambhale, had the opportunity to know Mark Hoffman during my one and half year
tenure at GVSU for the Master’s in Public Administration programme (MPA) during the academic session of 20002001. Apart from taking selected courses under his domain, I was fortunate enough to serve as his graduate assistant
too. This gave me a chance to interact and know him better in a professional and personal capacity. A cloud of
apprehension hung over me during my initial phase being an international student from India with a physical
sciences background. However getting Mark in the form of a mentor dispersed all my doubts soon.
An indication about his thoughtful nature was glimpsed across when he took the initiative to throw a pizza party for
international students on the first day itself after the orientation programme, and this acted as the requisite ice
breaker. Mark’s healthy cultural tolerance level certainly earned my respect in the first month itself. His considerate
and patient approach worked wonders for me and was definitely instrumental in settling to the new environment.
Mark always went the extra mile to ensure that my academic progress scaled well above the average level. Enrolling
for the foundation course with him acted as a decisive factor in the completion of my studies. He always encouraged
me to see things from a different perspective and made me challenge myself at all levels. His accommodating and
supporting nature complemented by a cool temperament made me easily approachable for resolving all types of
issues. A point to be noted here, a flair for research and analytical skills and critical reasoning are overshadowed by
his modest demeanour.
Lending me his personal copy of The Chicago Manual of Style for better advancement in term papers at the onset
was extremely gratifying to better myself all the way throughout the programme. Helping me out with census data
analysis, which actually fell beyond his academic purview, is one of the indications about his helpful nature. Further,
giving me a chance to work on the Dreamweaver software for designing websites is yet another indication of raising
his student’s confidence levels by encouraging them to work on unexplored projects. Timely intervention on his part
for workshops and internships enrolment made me realise the value of practical training in the early stages of my
programme.
A testimony to his able guidance and counselling abilities lies in the fact that I managed to finish my course well
before the completion period with an above average satisfactory 3.5 GPA. Notable is his quality to get the best out
of his students and come what may ever he always makes it a point to be available for them.
It was indeed a humbling and truly satisfying experience for me to work with Mark. In retrospect, Mark in the role
model of a mentor is the best I could have ever asked for! To this day, I still cherish and inculcate the ethos, values
and ethics that I have learnt from him in my social and professional life.
For further reference, I can be contacted at subjective2001@yahoo.com or jambhaley@mail.dnb.co.in
Sincerely Yours,
Yogesh Jambhale
October 18, 2010
Mumbai, India
Krakow, 20th October, 2010
Dear College of Community and Public Service Personnel Committee:
I am writing this letter on behalf of Professor Mark Hoffman to support his sabbatical proposal of spending
a semester at CUE.
I met Professor Mark in 2005 when I went to the US for exchange program and later for my MPA at
GVSU, Grand Rapids. Then he was of the great support to me. He helped me with many situations that
as a foreigner I had problems to deal with. Also, he showed his empathy and willingness to share with
me, and other international students, US culture, when organizing some cultural events at his home,
watching good movies, having after that conversations on that and also sharing traditional American food.
Also, during my MPA studies I had a chance to enrol on a course led by him and I have to say that I
benefited a lot.
After completing the exchange program I wished to stay in the US for 2 moths more to have a chance to
do an internship at VAGTC. Then he agreed I can join other international students that rented apartments
at his home. That made possible for me to accomplish the internship that influenced on my future career
as well.
From all of the different situations I had a chance to get to know him, as a mentor of international
students, as a very active professor that greatly interact in a group and as a person that is always of the
help I fully support his proposal to spend a semester at CUE. I believe it will be a great opportunity for him
to better understand foreign students being this time on the other side of the exchange program.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any doubts.
Kind regards,
Monika Jeleń
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My address:
ul. Narciarska 30/17, 31-579 Krakow, POLAND
Phone: 0048-514-333-579
e-mail: monika.cracow@gmail.com
October 22, 2010
To whom it may concern
I am writing this letter to provide my strongest recommendation to Professor Mark C. Hoffman.
I have known Professor Hoffman since I started my Masters of Public Administration studies and graduate
assistantship at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in August 2007. Professor Hoffman is one of the best
professors I have ever come across, in all aspects of teaching and personality. I had a chance to attend his course on
public sector Geographic Information Systems and Foundations of Public Management. The lecturers were very
interesting, conducted in a dynamic teaching style and highly organized. Professor also cared a lot about the level of
understanding of each student, which I appreciate the most as I was studying in a non-native language.
Professor Hoffman has a great ability to stimulate students and add personality to the course material as well as to
share his passion for public management issues. His professionalism and mentoring skills help students reach their
full potential.
Yours sincerely,
Magdalena Krol
Cracow University of Economics
& Grand Valley State University Alumni
Brussels, 20 October 2010
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to support my former advisor and assistantship supervisor, prof. Mark
Hoffman, in his application for the post of a visiting scholar at the Central European
University in Cracow. The support which he offered me during my stay as a foreign
student at Grand Valley State University (2002/2003) was both crucial for my
performance and intellectually inspiring. I am fully convinced that prof. Hoffman will
meet all the expectations imposed on a faculty staff which executes a multicultural
academic program.
My scholarship at the School of Public Administration at GVSU involved a number of
challenges. They were of many dimensions: cultural ones related to my background as a
national of an ex-communist and still developing country, academic ones whereby the
style of teaching at American university was so much different from my previous
experience at my home university, linguistic ones and even existential as it was
necessary to supplement my scholarship income with paid internships. The support
from prof. Hofman as my advisor touched on every challenge that there was. Thanks to
his support I have been able to cope with all of these difficulties and yet perform
academically well enough to be recognized as a student of the year.
I imagine that being an advisor to a foreign student with such a different cultural
background and in addition accepting him as an assistant must have been for prof.
Hoffman a challenging experience in itself. Nevertheless, prof. Hoffman was showing
repeatedly his openness, patience and full commitment to support his students. He
engaged me in a number of off-curriculum projects, such as developing community
development indicators or monitoring crime statistics. He introduced me to
metropolitan land use planning authority which eventually offered me a very interesting
internship. He also committed his private time to integrate his international students
with the faculty staff. All of this made my stay at the GVSU an unforgettable
experience.
I am fully convinced that your program will benefit greatly from having prof. Hoffman
among your faculty members.
Yours Sincerely,
Michal Kubicki
Unit G.1: REACH – Chemicals
DG Enterprise & Industry
European Commission
Direct phone: +32 (2) 229 66231
Priv. email: kubickim@gmail.com
Dominika Nowak
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tel Aviv
Trade and Investment Promotion Section
Yehuda Hamaccabi 79, Tel Aviv 62300, Israel
tel. +972 544222267
October 18, 2010
Dean George Grant, Jr.
Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids, MI
Dear Dean George Grant, Jr.
I graduated from the MPA program at the School of Public and Nonprofit
Administration of Grand Valley State University in 2006 where I was also graduate assistant
during the academic year 2005/2006.
I would like to highlight the role of Professor Mark Hoffman in my education at GVSU.
The studies at Grand Valley State University were my first encounter with the U.S. education
system, as well as with the country itself. As a foreign student I had to go through a demanding
adaptation process, on the cultural level, and more importantly, with regard to the thematic scope
of the studies and teaching methods. Professor Hoffman was of invaluable help in this process.
Through his mentoring I was able to raise my knowledge in the areas related to my study courses,
such as inter alia, management and sustainability of nonprofit organizations, NGO-business
relations; as well as broader topics, including governmental services consolidation, public
management at the local level, minority groups, NGO-related policies and ethics. The discussions
with Professor Hoffman were also crucial for my deeper understanding of the American culture
and politics.
I would like to emphasize Professor Hoffman’s capabilities to work with students from
other countries and his openness to their views. He was always ready to share his knowledge and
provide counseling. I especially appreciate his ability to inspire students to be independent
thinkers and to pursue their own research.
Professor Hoffman’s guidance influenced both my professional, as well as personal
development, and it had an important impact on my career choices and growth.
Dominika Nowak
Wojciech Solak
Calle Peru 28C 3/4
08018 Barcelona
Spain
Barcelona 21.10.2010
To: College of Community and Public Service Personnel Committee,
I believe Professor Mark Hoffman, the director of the School of Public and Non-profit Administration, is a perfect
candidate for a position of visiting professor at the Cracow University of Economic.
I attended professor’s two classes: Foundation of Public Management and GIS in Public Service. Prof. Mark
Hoffman is a very knowledgeable person that knows how to attract students’ attention. His ability to connect with
the students and his talent at teaching are both truly superior. He is very articulate, explaining difficult concepts with
ease. Professor Hoffman skilfully stimulates classroom discussion making the classes very interesting and
intellectually provoking. He is a very friendly person, easily connecting with students, engaging the students when
necessary, challenging them academically and responding to their needs. Professor Hoffman’s classes were among
the best I attended.
I also had a pleasure to get to know Professor Mark Hoffman on a more personal level. From a number of
conversations I had with professor, I learnt as much as or perhaps even more than in the classroom. Those
conversations helped me gain new perspective on many things including American culture
I’m convinced that classes with Professor Mark Hoffman are going to be for polish students exceptional experience.
I believe one semester spent in Poland will also benefit Professor Mark Hoffman himself. Getting to know Polish
culture and Polish educational system will definitely be an advantage for Prof. Mark Hoffman.
Best regards,
Wojtek Solak
Tel: 0034673968583
Email: wojsol@gmail.com
To whom it might concearn,
I would like to write this letter of support for prof Mark Hoffman's candidature as
a fellow teacher to the Cracow University of Economics.
I was lucky to be prof. Hoffman's student during the academic year 2002/2003.
During my studies at Grand Valley State University I have followed several
courses and workshops that prof. Hoffman was teaching.
I had also a pleasure to have prof. Hoffman as a mentor during my work at
Community Research Institute. During my assistantship I had often benefited
from prof. Hoffman's advice and help.
Many of the skills that I have mastered I was able to use later on during my work
for the European Commission, DG Information Society and DG Research and
Innovation.
I recall prof. Hoffman having exceptionally good relationships with the
international students.His knowledge on polish geopolitical, cultural matters and
especially polish history was impressive.
It is thanks to prof. Hoffman academic help I assess my studying experience at
Grand Valley State University as exceptionally successful.
Please feel free to contact me in case of any additional questions.
Daniel Szmytkowski
European Commission
Research and Innovation Directorate General
Unit RTD.A.6.2 Management Reporting and Data Quality
Office: SDME 02/10
B - 1049 Brussels
Tel.: +(32) 2 295.89.96
Fax: +(32) 2 292.15.36
Email: daniel.szmytkowski@ec.europa.eu
Gdynia, 21 October 2010
Grzegorz Trepka
Jeziorko 71
26-006 Nowa Słupia
gtrepka@gmail.com
tel. 0048 608 808 178
To: College of Community and Public Service Personnel Committee
I am writing this statement hoping for your careful consideration of Professor Mark Hoffman for exchange
programme at Cracow University of Economics.
I have known Professor Hoffman for over two years in capacities as a tenant, full time graduate student and, later on,
GVSU alumni. I had also unique chance to attended two classes lead by Professor. Professor Hoffman was also my
academic advisor during my studies at GVSU helping me with study program development.
My first interactions with Professor Hoffman begun at the admission stage. From the very first email I exchanged
with Professor all information, instructions and explanations given were clear and easy to follow. Professor was
extremely helpful with explanation of the administrative procedures and requirements. His advise and
recommendations were perfect matches between my expectations and available opportunities. What impressed me
the most was his unique skill of active listening.
In my opinion, his commitment went well beyond what was required or expected. Professor Hoffman definitely
stood out in his active involvement in international students’ community. Thanks to his initiatives and
encouragement, we had chance to organize few cultural events at Professors’ place. Those events proved to be
successful because we students had a chance to explore and better understand other cultures and religions in semiacademic environment.
Professor Hoffman’s contribution and openness towards international students had been recognized and in 2009 a
group of international students, including myself, nominated Professor for the Pineapple Award. In justification I
wrote “[…]the never ending Socratic discussions and debates during which Professor play the devil's advocate,
make me crazy yet help me to experience what the true academic debate is about […]” Those provoking debates and
discussions were definitely most enjoyable part of my studies at GVSU.
I truly believe that exchange program will enable Professor Hoffman to even better understand and ultimately more
effectively assist international students. To my mind, only exposure to new culture and going through all phases of
cultural shock gives somebody insights to students’ potential problems.
If I can be of any further assistance, or provide you with any further information, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Yours faithfully,
Appendix C: Contact list for exploring issues in inter-cultural teaching
The following people have been recommended to me as the resident experts in teaching, advising
and/or mentoring students from different cultural backgounds:
Yeungnam University:
Sang-Woo Joo, Ph.D. - Director of International Cooperation
Byung-Wan Lee, Ph.D. - Director of Foreign Language Institute
Yu-Shin Lee, Ph.D. - Professor of Political Science & School of International Studies
Cracow University of Economics:
Dr. David Clowes. Lecturer in Economics and founding member of the Growth Research Unit
Prof. Dr. Hab. Jacek Osiewalski, Professor of Economic Sciences and Fellow of the Journal of
Econometrics
Joanna Pauk, International Students Co-ordinator at International Programmes Office.