June

1st, 2016

Dear Distinguished Members of the Tenure and Promotion Committee:
I am please to have the privilege of writing this letter to express my wholehearted support
for Dr. Jeffrey M. Harman for tenure in the College of Health Sciences. His constant work
ethic, willingness to strengthen the Exercise Science program, and contributions to the
University has greatly established his academic maturity reflecting a trust that also merits
tenure.

Teaching
I have taken three courses taught by Dr. Hartman, in addition to an independent study and
internship. The courses taught me to be self-sufficient, organized, and prepared. Dr.
Hartman always required his students to speak publically, present in front of the
classroom, attend mock interviews, and most importantly, learn to research. He gave
autonomy in the classroom and served as a guide, allowing for critical thinking and
discussion based learning. I learned so much in Dr. Hartmans classes through meaningful
projects, presentations, and hands on activities. I grew both academically and personally
under his teaching, which more than prepared me for graduate school. I always felt
comfortable to ask questions or stay after class a few extra minutes if I needed clarity or
advice, and Dr. Hartman was always willing to help. It felt good to have a teacher you knew
was rooting for you. Dr. Hartman is someone you want to make proud. It is a testament to
his teaching that I was able to establish competence and confidence in the classroom, which
motivated me to continue my pursuit of health education after undergrad.

Research
Dr. Hartman always encouraged me to go beyond the classroom. In the summer of 2013, I
was a part of the Summer Research Scholars Program at Gardner-Webb. Under his
guidance, I initiated research into whether the Freshman 15 should be a concern for
students who attend the University. From start to finish, Dr. Hartman and I met frequently
to discuss the project and process the data. He gave me a deeper understanding of data
analysis and drawing conclusions. I am so grateful for that opportunity to conduct research,
because I learned how to be disciplined, ask questions about the research process, and
most of all, how to persevere. As a result of the scholars program, Dr. Hartman encouraged
me to submit my research to the South Eastern American College of Sports Medicines Call
to Abstracts conference. I received 3rd place for my research and poster presentation and
could not have accomplished this without the guidance and leadership of Dr. Hartman.
Even now that I have graduated from both undergraduate and graduate school, Dr.
Hartman is setting aside time, in addition to his family and career, to finish our research
paper in order to submit it for publication.

Mentoring and Advising

From freshman to senior year I am sure I stopped into Dr. Hartmans office almost weekly
to ask for advice on degree changes, running, research, homework, or graduate school. I
valued his expertise and his advice always seemed to lead me in the right direction. I
remember when the Health and Wellness major was switching to Exercise Science and I
was so torn on which to choose. When I sought his advice, Dr. Hartman simply asked me to
take a walk somewhere quiet where I could reflect and pray. He never pressured me, but
desired for me to thrive where I felt confident and at peace. Through many discussions
about post-graduation plans, my desire for graduate school became apparent. This is where
The University of Virginia came in. I had always loved Virginia, especially with family living
in the surrounding area, so Dr. Hartman and I began to look at what they had to offer in the
health education field. Not long after, Dr. Hartman and his family planned a trip to
Charlottesville and offered for me to ride there with them so I could meet professors and
gain more understanding of the various programs. He personally introduced me to one of
his old advisors, who would eventually become my next advisor. This past May I graduated
from UVA with my Masters in Applied Developmental Science with a focus in interventions
to physical activity and healthy eating. I can definitely say that Dr. Hartman gave me the
skills necessary to thrive and succeed at the graduate school level.

Dr. Hartman is an excellent representative of the faculty at Gardner-Webb and the
University as a whole. I believe that the quality of his past, present, and future work and his
relationship with students will greatly enhance both the University and the Exercise
Science community. Dr. Hartman saw potential in my abilities both as an individual and
student and pushed me to work hard. He also sought and created opportunities for me,
which paved the path to attend graduate school at The University of Virginia. I again
reiterate my support for Dr. Hartman in his pre-tenure review. Please do not hesitate to
contact me should you have any further questions regarding my experience with or opinion
of Dr. Hartman.

Best Regards,

Kaitlyn Gabrielle Miller (Washburn)