Alee Johnson
English and Studio Art Student
Washington and Lee University '15
References
John Jensen
Director of Career Development and Associate Dean of Students
Washington and Lee University
"When I think of what makes a good employee, there are a few adjectives that pop in my mind: honest, hardworking, meticulous, etc. However, those words do not always separate the good from the great. Often times, it is the intangibles that allow individuals to rise to the top. That is how I would categorize Alee Johnson’s work for Washington and Lee’s Career Development office. First and foremost, Alee brought an energy every day that was unmatched by my team. She never waited to be told what to do, but tried to solve some of our macro issues immediately. One very tangible result of her internship, is we now have a more fluid communications strategy to our students. This new strategy, which Alee implemented, has already yielded a 66% increase in student appointments YoY. Alee was also crucial to giving us new ideas for programming, such as: “Set up Your Online Presence” and a “Deconstructing Program”. These were not necessarily new ideas to us, but how she proposed implementing them allowed us to get more students signed up!
In closing, Alee provided a breath of fresh air, or put differently, she challenged us to think outside the box and deliver student programming where they were, not up in our offices. Career service offices across the country need students like Alee to “wake them up” and provide innovative solutions to helping our students. As they say, actions speak louder than words. When Alee’s internship ended, we asked her to stay on to help continue the great work she started. I cannot think of a more fitting compliment to an amazing person."
Nancy Maunder
Senior Production Designer
West Cary Group
"Alee joined our company in the fall of 2015, for a 6 week internship. She joined the team as a graphic designer working through all aspects of the role. She quickly excelled in this position and it's many parts. The projects she worked on pushed her to work not only as a designer, but as project manager and account manager. She handled a variety of work including: print pieces, displays, and large format.
From the first day to the last day--Alee's confidence in herself and her passion to problem solve served her well.
Alee holds very valuable traits that will carry her a long way, in all facets of life. She is confident, detail oriented, has the ability to work independently and shines while working collaboratively with others to brainstorm solutions!
She is very comfortable in her space and quickly brings others into that space. The internship was a success. We both learned from each other. I am interested in seeing the many different opportunities that will come her way and watch her explore the possibilities."
David Fournelle
Philanthropy Assistant
The Nature Conservancy, Richmond Chapter
"Alee interned with the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy during the autumn of 2015. Her main project during that time was helping us to coordinate a campaign feasibility study amongst our trustees, major donors and other state leaders. I can't begin to describe what an amazing help Alee was in completing this project. She was highly flexible with her schedule, thoroughly professional when communicating with our constituents, and was organized and attentive in the work she performed. She brings a diversity of skills and abilities to the table, as well as energy and enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. In short, Alee is a true asset and pleasure to work with."
Steve Schultz
Live Like Jack Foundation
"I had the pleasure of working with Alee this summer as she interned for the Live Like Jack Foundation, where I sit as a board member. Alee is fantastic. I rarely meet a young person who out of the gate can manage personalities and a strong workload with little supervision, while providing a confident presence beyond her years. She proved herself to be a passionate employee who thought creatively about our challenges and brought immediate and consistent value. Her excellent writing, organization, and high EQ helped our team fund-raise to our goals, create a digital media presence, and hone our strategy moving forward. For her future employer, she will quickly become invaluable in any professional situation, meet deadlines, and manage-upward, while bringing energy and fun to her team. I am happy to connect with any one as a reference, so please feel free to reach out."
Clover Archer Lyle
Director, Staniar Gallery
Washington and Lee University
"I first met Alee two years ago when she was a student in my contemporary arts seminar course, which is required for studio art majors in their junior year.
Alee's dedication to the arts led her to enroll in the advanced level course when she was only a sophomore. Though the other students were further along in their
studies, Alee dove right in, tackling every assignment with enthusiasm and creativity. She consistently contributed thoughtful, insightful comments in every critique and discussion and was deeply committed with her own studio practice, challenging herself to move outside of her comfort zone to produce a sophisticated body of work.
It has been a privilege to work with Alee over the past two years. She radiates positivity, has a wonderful sense of humor, and has an uncanny ability to put everyone around her at ease. I am confident that Alee will be a tremendous asset to any organization and I recommend her highly."
Sara Greene
Assistant Director of Career Development
Washington and Lee University
“Alee has been a tremendous asset to our office. She has the keen ability to develop innovative programs and services with the follow through and communication to ensure the task is completed. Alee’s reliability, flexibility and creative thinking will add value to any organization.”