\documentclass[12pt]{letter}

\topmargin -0.5in
\headheight 0.0in
\headsep 0.0in
\textheight 9.5in
\oddsidemargin 0in
\textwidth 6.5in
\pagestyle{empty} % no room for page numbers

\usepackage{amsmath}  % \text and other useful math stuff

\usepackage{hyperref}
\hypersetup{colorlinks}
\hypersetup{linkcolor=black}
\hypersetup{anchorcolor=black}
\hypersetup{citecolor=black}
\hypersetup{filecolor=black}
\hypersetup{menucolor=black}
\hypersetup{runcolor=black}
\hypersetup{urlcolor=[rgb]{0, 0, 0.7}}

\signature{W.~Trevor King}
\address{120 Miller Street \\ Highlands, NJ 07732}
\telephone{+1 215 284 6634}
\medskipamount=0pt

\begin{document}

\begin{letter}{Executive Assistant to the Dean \\
  College of Arts and Sciences \\
  Saint Martin's University \\
  5000 Abbey Way SE \\
  Lacey, WA 98503}

\opening{Ms.~Laura Hoff,}

Thank you for reviewing my application for the position of Assistant
Professor of Physics at Saint Martin's University.  Over my years
working on my Ph.D. studies at Drexel University, I have been looking
forward to teaching physics at a small, undergraduate-oriented liberal
arts college.  While working at a larger research-oriented institution
has been exciting, I have always been attracted to teaching.  I look
forward to working at a school such as St. Martin's which clearly has
a strong commitment to teaching excellence and teacher training.
Besides teaching physics, I am also interested in advancing the
science of teaching as well as in developing open source experiment
control procedures.  Over the past year I have been active in the
\href{http://software-carpentry.org/}{Software Carpentry}
organization, which trains scientists around the world in current
software development and data management techniques.  Software
Carpentry
\href{http://software-carpentry.org/bootcamps/2013-02-uwash.html}{recently}
\href{http://software-carpentry.org/blog/2013/03/washington-went-well.html}{ran}
a boot boot camp at the University of Washington, and I look forward
to continuing this outreach in the Puget Sound area.

I am also looking forward to working at a religious school.  While I
myself am agnostic, I enjoyed the traditions of my
\href{http://www.archmereacademy.com/}{Norbertine high school}.  I
also have a number of religious family members, including a
grandfather and uncle who were both United Methodist ministers.  In my
experience, a religious environment fosters a studied approach to
learning, a willingness to grapple with big questions, and a respect
for the diversity of humanity.  Students undertaking a liberal arts
education are well served by each of these qualities.

On a more prosaic level, I am excited about moving from the
mid-Atlantic---where I have spent most of my life---to the Northwest.
Starting in the Fall, my wife Emily will be opening a veterinary
surgery practice at the \href{http://olympiapetemergency.net/}{Olympia
  Pet Emergency} hospital just down the street.  After years of
commuting several hours from our current home in New Jersey to Drexel
in Philadelphia, the chance for jobs that are only two miles apart is
quite appealing.  My wife is originally from Vancouver, Canada, and I
have enjoyed our annual summer trip out to visit with her family.  I
also look forward to the drizzly climate, since the sun and I have
never been the best of friends.  Being able to enjoy the outdoors
(sailing and hiking!) without having to slather on the sunblock sounds
like a good idea to me.

Please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or email if you need
any additional information.

\closing{Yours,}

\end{letter}

\end{document}
