You have reached this page because you have asked me to write you a letter of recommendation—and I’ve agreed. That means I believe I know you and your work well enough to write a strong and supportive letter.
To clarify, I generally only write letters for students who have taken at least one seminar course with me. I also only agree to write letters when I feel I have genuinely positive things to say about you. Since you are here, we’ve already passed that initial stage.
If you’re requesting multiple letters from me, here are a few important steps that will help streamline the process:

1. Give Me Enough Time
If this is the first letter I’m writing for you, please give me at least three weeks’ notice. If I’ve written letters for you before, then two weeks’ notice is sufficient.

2. Provide Clear and Complete Information
Step 1: Create a shared Google Drive folder and give me editing access. In that folder, please include:
1. Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
2. Your cover letter.
3. Your writing sample (if required).
4. Any additional materials that you think will help me write a more thoughtful and accurate letter on your behalf.

Step 2: In that same folder, create a Google Doc that lists all of your applications. Please organize the list by deadline (soonest first) and include the following for each:
1. Full name of the institution.
2. Full mailing address.
3. Name of the fellowship, internship, job, or program.
4. Deadline for submission.
5. Email or mailing address where the letter should be sent.
6. Name and year of the course(s) you took with me.

3. Fill Out Online Forms Accurately
If I’m submitting your letter through an online system, please complete the forms as fully as possible, including my information:
Name: Professor Foad Torshizi
Title: Associate Professor of Art History and Photography
Department of Theory and History of Art and Design and Photography Department
Mailing Address: 20 Washington Pl., Providence, RI 02903
Email: torshizi@risd.edu

4. Waive Your Right to View the Letter
If I’ve agreed to write your letter, it means I have positive things to say. Please waive your right to view the letter—this ensures your application is taken more seriously, as confidential letters carry more weight.

5. Send Me a Reminder
Please send me a reminder 48–72 hours before each deadline. This helps ensure I don’t miss anything.

Thank you for trusting me to support your applications. I’m always interested to hear how things turn out—please keep me posted!

Recitations