To whom it may concern,
I had the distinct pleasure of taking courses led by Dr. Wilson Edward Reed, and in my four years of undergraduate experience, I cannot recall any greater educational experiences than those that I received in his classroom. "Doc," the name he advises his students to call him by, is powerfully aware of the world around him and his students; it's knowledge that he relies on to lead his daily lessons. The courses I took were rooted in studying poverty, race, and police issues in America (both modem-day and historical). Given the tensions of today's global social issues, Doc encourages his students to reflect on the world outside, to bring some deeper thoughts into the classroom. He partners relevant and engaging reading material to stimulate our ideas and connect dots between academia and reality.
Beyond his ability to cultivate a positive learning experience, Doc is a genuine and reliable ally. He's an excellent listener and cares deeply for the concerns of his students and peers. Should someone need to visit him during office hours, or when he's on campus, regardless of the situation, he ensures everyone his undivided respect and attention. He makes it easy to hold him in such high regards, because he does the exact same for his students.
Doc leans heavily on his personal experience in studying Black history and the historically-slanted treatment by police towards people of color (and other national defensive/fighting forces) as a driving force in pushing students towards understanding a variety of relevant social issues: privilege (or lack thereof), bias (implicit or otherwise), racism vs. prejudice, homelessness and poverty, and community relations. I personally would not be as knowledgeable of the deeply-rooted communal issues that exist in the world, but namely in Seattle. Many of Doc's assignments included forcing his students to engage with the community-whether it meant doing service learning work, walking through notoriously impoverished areas of the city, etc. Where most professors would divert students to, for example, reading the news or setting up Google Alerts on their emails, Doc pushed us out into the reality that we are all bound to adapt to eventually.
I cannot stress enough how deeply and highly I respect Dr. Reed. Having him as a part of your institution would be a privilege and a service to your staff, students, and the community at large. He is an impactful and bright human, and one of the most qualified people you could ever be able to find to shape the minds and hearts of students.
C. J.
AEG Presents Northwest, LLC
Seattle University
To whom it may concern:
I am writing this letter in reference to Dr. Wilson Edward Reed whom I worked closely with as a student and also in a mentorship capacity. During my undergraduate years at Seattle University, I had the pleasure of being one of Dr. Reed's students. Dr. Reed is a highly capable professor who consistently encourages his students to think critically and deeply about social justice in the context of the past and how it connects to the present. Dr. Reed teaches with passion while also integrating the elements of effective essay writing. I learned how to use a social justice framework
and articulate my developing ideas both through written word and verbally.
This foundation helped me develop not only as a student but also as a person overall. Dr. Reed uses an effective syllabus that includes novels I still keep on my bookshelf to this day and continue to recommend to my peers. The prompts for the essays he assigns to his students force the student to think outside of the box and really explore personal bias as well as systemic equity issues that are relevant to our current socio-political climate.
Dr. Reed was consistently available for office hours which supported my learning while in his class and throughout my entire 4 years at Seattle University whether I was enrolled in one of his classes or not. Dr. Reed also served as a mentor for my academic and professional development.
Although I am currently employed in the healthcare field, everything I've learned from Dr. Reed is deeply ingrained into my profession. My experience in his class sets me apart from my peers as I continue to integrate the foundations of equity and justice into my practice every day.
I can wholeheartedly say Dr. Reed will serve as an invaluable asset to any classroom and/or organization he is a part of.
Sincerely,
S. K. BSN, RN
Seattle University
To whom it may concern,
I’m writing to endorse Dr. Wilson Reed and Matt Lindstrom as thoughtful and engaging anti-racist educators. Along with a small leadership group, I reached out to Dr. Reed in the fall of 2020 to potentially host a series of workshops around race and racism for our extended family as we embarked upon and philanthropic giving project. We felt that an anti-racist lens was crucial to the work we were doing, and we wanted to develop some shared language and knowledge around these issues.
We were impressed by Dr. Reed’s life story and thoughtful, personal approach to these conversations. We appreciated his deep connections to the Seattle community and felt he was a good fit for this educational initiative. We engaged him for a series of six two-hour-long zoom sessions that met every two weeks. The curriculum that was crafted centered around three books and supplemental resources such as podcasts, videos, and articles.
Dr. Reed and Matt Lindstrom’s approachable demeanor allowed our group to enter into hard conversations around systemic racism and begin to investigate our own internal biases. I’m very grateful for their thoughtful curriculum and deep knowledge of the subject matter.
Sincerely,
Ada Potter
To Whom It May Concern,
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This law firm and the undersigned attorney have represented Dr. Wilson Reed for the past several years. During that time, we have come to know of Dr Reed's demeanor, personality, education, and life experiences. Based upon our experiences and observations, we enthusiastically recommend Dr. Reed as an excellent choice as your Diversity Training Mentor.
Our recommendation is also supported by Dr. Reed's continued interaction with numerous former students. His students appear to have gained valuable insight and much deeper understanding of diversity issues after having been educated by Dr. Reed.
On a personal level, Dr. Reed is engaging and probing, and often uses humor to approach prickly societal topics. His approach fosters peoples' interest, and invites people to safely but thoroughly consider diversity evolution topics for the common good.
Dr. Reed has also examined his own life, and the lives of people that imprinted his personality. That expose is an invaluable backdrop for advancing the lives of others.
We therefore recommend Dr. Reed without hesitation.
​
Russel John Hermes
HERMES LAW FIRM, P.S.
References
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P. K.
Dean at Seattle University
Dr. Q. T.
Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Professor of American History, University of Washington
Dr. E. J.
Equity and Social Justice, African American Studies, Multicultural Studies professor
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Russel John Hermes
HERMES LAW FIRM, P.S.