Professor, Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University

Stephen was a graduate student in two classes I taught and always brought critical thinking to his work, including class discussions and presentations which were uniquely informative and engaging. He excelled at being able to capture the audience while conveying important information in a way that prompted all of us to think more deeply and perhaps in different ways about the topic at hand. We all benefitted from his ability to translate experiences from the private sector into the higher ed. space, a skill that will make him a uniquely qualified candidate for many public or private roles. Through all the technical aspects of teaching and learning, what I felt from him is that he cares greatly about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow. This is a gift.

Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University

Stephen Sterling is an exceptional student and emerging leader in higher education. Over the past year, I had the privilege of instructing Stephen in three of my graduate courses, and I can attest to his exceptional work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and unique skill set.

Stephen is a true go-getter - he consistently takes initiative, seeks out opportunities for involvement, and demonstrates a genuine passion for education. His confidence and self-efficacy are evident in the way he proactively facilitated the creation of an internship opportunity, even though it was not a program requirement.

Beyond his impressive drive, Stephen also brings a valuable blend of technical expertise and educational experience to the table. His background in the tech and startup world has equipped him with specialized skills in areas like instructional design and online content development - talents that are in high demand within higher education.

If Stephen chooses to pursue a career in the college or university setting, he would be an incredible asset. His unique qualifications, combined with his unwavering commitment to learning and growth, make him an exceptional candidate. I give Stephen my highest recommendation without reservation.

Professor, Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University

It is my pleasure to endorse Stephen Sterling as he completes the requirements for his degree. 

Stephen has excelled in his graduate program. While taking courses that provided the usual overview of higher education and its functions and facilities, he has fleshed out his portfolio by taking courses that broaden his perspective including work in leadership and organizational challenges. He is an excellent writer, and, in my course, went beyond expectations in designing and completing his projects. 

Throughout the course that Stephen took from me, he demonstrated a strong understanding of the current concepts regarding the needs, interests, motivations, capacities, and characteristics of adult learners and at-risk students. Additionally, Stephen identified and presented impactful information on program developments for these populations of students and the influence these programs can make on society, culture, politics, and economics. 

I look forward to hearing from Stephen as he puts his degree work to the tasks in his professional life.

Professor, Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University

As an instructor of the NAU CCHE650 course on Social Entrepreneurship in Higher Education I had the pleasure of working with Stephen Sterling, a student taking the course as part of his Masters’ degree program.  Stephen brought a unique point of view to the course as he spent time as an entrepreneur prior to taking this course and was one of few students working in the private sector, rather than higher education.  Stephen could discern the academic thoughts in the course material but was always able to see how the course lessons would benefit entrepreneurs and how they had practical value in the private sector.  A great deal of the current research on entrepreneurship is focused on practitioners and Stephen’s analytic skills and attention to detail brought a valuable contribution to the course.  I enjoyed working with Stephen as he demonstrated exceptional communication skills with an ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.  I highly recommend Stephen for his dedication, professionalism, and ability to deliver results.