Our 2020-2021 E-Board have answered a few questions about themselves, to help us get to know them!
President: Lilianna Devenau, MA Student in Sociology
1. What unique experience or perspective do you hope to bring to the E-Board?
Lili: The unique perspective I bring to the eboard is multifaceted. First, I have strong "left brain" and "right brain" abilities, which helps me to connect data and experiences in creative and impactful ways. I've also worked in multinational corporations, health care capacities, academia, nonprofits, and private sectors, so I understand the transferable skills employers are looking for regardless of one's specific career path. Finally, I have ample experience in serving as an advocate. I'm thankful to represent you!
2. What’s one of your major goals for GAPSA for this school year?
Lili: An area I'd love to focus on this year is the expansion of GAPSA. By increasing awareness and participation, we can better represent graduate and professional students and ensure the support needed for success.
VP of Fairfax: Tareque Mehdi, PhD Student in Education
1. What unique experience or perspective do you hope to bring to the E-Board?
Tareque: I am an international student and I believe that my intercultural experience will help our GAPSA team to listen and carry our graduate students’ stories, help them to break through seen and unforeseen barriers that stand in the way of their success at Mason and beyond.
2. What’s one of your major goals for GAPSA for this school year?
Tareque: One of my major goals for this school year would be to work with the GAPSA team closely and increase impact of our events and services. I would like to work together with Mason graduate students; also reach out to the unreached graduate students, create engaging and developmentally appropriate events, services for them so that we get more active participation.
VP of SciTech: Marissa Howard, PhD Student in Bioscience
1. What unique experience or perspective do you hope to bring to the E-Board?
Marissa: With my scientific and infectious disease background, I hope to help the board better strategize and navigate the upcoming year as we endure the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the future year to come.
2. What’s one of your major goals for GAPSA for this school year?
Marissa: A major goal I have for GAPSA this year would be to raise awareness of GAPSA to the Sci-Tech graduate population as well as be the best advocate for the unique degree programs of the Sci-Tech graduate population to the general graduate population
Director of Communications: Steven Zhou, PhD Student in Psychology
1. What unique experience or perspective do you hope to bring to the E-Board?
Steven: I've been a graduate student for many years, in all types of programs: part-time in-person Master's, full-time online Master's, and now full-time in-person/online PhD. I'm familiar with many of the unique challenges and opportunities each face. Moreover, I've had experiences in the admin side of higher education and hope to utilize that to bridge the gap between students and admin.
2. What’s one of your major goals for GAPSA for this school year?
Steven: As Director of Communications, I hope to consolidate communications and help identify the most efficient ways to get information to graduate students. We're all inundated with too many emails, so I hope to find more efficient and effective ways to get the word out about events, opportunities, and announcements.
