College of Arts and Sciences

11200 S.W. 8th Street, ECS 450 • Miami, FL 33199 • Tel: (305) 348-2864 • Fax: (305) 348-4172 Florida International University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution - TDD via FRS 1-800-955-8771

25 February 2014

MEMORANDUM FOR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM: Assistant Professor Dr. Iqbal Akhtar, Florida International University SUBJECT: Letter of Recommendation for Mauro Bagnariol 1. I have known Mauro Bagnariol for more than a semester. Last semester he was enrolled in my ‘Development of International Relations Thought’, a capstone course for majors that traces the development of political philosophy from the Ancients until the 19th century. As a top performing student, he received an ‘A-’ final mark in the course. 2. He was an active student who was consistently on time, came prepared for class, and was articulate in class discussions providing positive contributions to the conversation. His final paper last term focused on applying the theory of ‘imperial overstretch’ to contemporary American foreign policy in the Near East through the perspective of the rise and fall of previous European colonial powers. His paper was thoughtful and well-researched. 3. Mauro’s educational background and work experience are equally impressive and his perspectives would be a major asset to any programme. He graduated cum laude with a dual major in Political Science and International Relations as well as a certificate in European Studies while interning in various international positions by leveraging his educational and cultural-linguistic background. 4. Mauro was a valuable asset to the FIU academic community. He is determined and has demonstrated great leadership potential. I highly recommend him for an internship or full-time employment in the field of international relations. 5. If you have any questions regarding this letter of recommendation, please do not hesitate to contact me. My e-mail address is iakhtar@fiu.edu and office number is +1 305.348.7098.

IQBAL S. AKHTAR, PH.D. (EDIN.) Department of Religious Studies Department of Politics & International Relations