January 16, 2023

The State University of New York College at Cortland

22 Graham Avenue
Cortland, NY 13045

To Whom It May Concern:

I am happy to provide a letter in support of Dr. Michael Tillotson for Full Professor at the State
University of New York College at Cortland. Dr. Tillotson has been instrumental in my
academic trajectory that began as an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh and
sent me to my Master’s program at the State University of New York at Albany. As I write this
letter, I am a doctoral candidate in the Department of African American and African Diaspora
Studies at Indiana University Bloomington and my current research in Black Atlantic religions is
an expansion of research that developed under Professor Tillotson’s mentorship.

I enrolled in my first course with Dr. Tillotson during my sophomore year at Pitt. And as a major
in Africana Studies, I would continue to take his other courses exploring topics of sex, gender,
and race while gaining knowledge of Africana theory and methodology. In class, Dr. Tillotson
would often repeat a mantra of the Africana Studies discipline, “academic excellence and social
responsibility,” that encouraged me to join the Africana Studies Club. Under his advising, I
served as the club president and helped execute community projects and organize academic talks.

I also had the pleasure to conduct multiple independent projects and a senior research seminar
with Dr. Tillotson. His assignments and guidance were central in the development of my
research skills and exposure to academic tools. I enjoyed the challenge of diving into the
literature and unbeknownst to me, I was taking note of topics that that I would explore in my
graduate studies. Ultimately, Dr. Tillotson encouraged me to join my interests in Africana
Studies with Religious Studies and led me to my current work that engages African-centered
knowledges and women led religious traditions in the Black Atlantic.

Under his mentorship, I achieved my first academic accomplishments, including presentations at

the 2014 and 2015 National Council of Black Studies conferences in Miami and Los Angeles. In
2014, I was also awarded the Student Paper Award from the Center on Race and Social Problems
at Pitt for a paper titled “Disproving the Pathological Label of Blacks: An African-Centered
Exploration.” This paper was the result of multiple semesters of work with Dr. Tillotson and
aided me in developing the confidence that was essential in making the transition to graduate
studies. The Department of Africana Studies at Pitt continues to recognize my mentoring
relationship with Dr. Tillotson and quotes the following on the departmental website:

Ballantine Hall 644 1020 E. Kirkwood Avenue Bloomington, IN 47405-2201 (812) 855-3875 fax (812) 855-4432
 “The cumulative knowledge I received from Dr. Tillotson’s courses, as well as his
mentorship, have been invaluable resources. Without his guidance, I do not believe that I
would have found my research interests and pursued graduate education. Dr. Tillotson’s
teachings have stuck with me beyond graduation and he has remained a mentor to me.
And for that, I am grateful.” Samantha Horton (A&S '15)

I still strive for academic excellence and social responsibility as I conduct comparative
transnational work. I recently returned from an extended stay in Brazil for Portuguese language
immersion, acclimating myself with Brazil and forming relationships for future ethnographic
work. As an undergraduate, I never imagined such an experience and it goes back to Dr.
Tillotson’s mentorship. I am thankful that he still accompanies me in my academic journey as I
make the next transition from graduate student to professor. Thank you for the opportunity to
support my mentor, Dr. Michael Tillotson

Sincerely,

Samantha M. Horton
Doctoral Candidate

Ballantine Hall 644 1020 E. Kirkwood Avenue Bloomington, IN 47405-2201 (812) 855-3875 fax (812) 855-4432