2025-2026 Run-Off Elections Results
Vice President of Fairfax:
Aishwarya Bhondge
Director of Communications:
Aparna Shastri
According to GAPSA Bylaws (Article IV), if no candidate receives a majority (50% plus 1) in GAPSA’s General Election, a Run-off Election between the two candidates receiving the most votes shall be held and elected by the General Assembly. The run-off election was held April 30 – May 1, 2025.
Vice President of Fairfax Votes Cast: 22
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Aishwarya Bhondge | 12 | 54.55% | Winner |
| Md Ridwan Hossain Talukder | 10 | 45.45% |
Director of Communications Votes Cast: 22
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Aparna Shastri | 16 | 72.73% | Winner |
| Adam Rizzoli | 6 | 27.27% |
GAPSA Executive Officers Elections 2025-2026 Results
Congratulations to the newly elected GAPSA Executive Officers for 2025-2026!
President:
Nilima Mow
Executive Vice President:
Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan
Vice President of Mason Square (Arlington):
Zayd Hamid
Vice President of Science and Technology:
Asritha Lakshmi Bontu
The elections for Vice President of Fairfax and Director of Communications will be decided by a run-off between the two candidates who received the most votes from the general election.
According to GAPSA Bylaws (Article IV), a candidate must receive a majority of correctly cast non-abstaining votes to win the election. A majority is defined as more than half of the votes cast (50% plus 1), excluding abstention. If no candidate receives a majority in GAPSA’s General Election, a Run-off Election between the two candidates receiving the most votes shall be held and elected by the General Assembly.
Total number of voters: 430
Votes cast: refers to number of votes cast, excluding abstentions and blanks
President Votes Cast: 331
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Nilima Mow | 296 | 89.43% | Winner |
| None (disapproval of all listed candidates) | 35 | 10.57% | |
| Abstain (no vote for President) | 64 | ||
| (blank) | 35 |
Executive Vice President Votes Cast: 321
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan | 179 | 55.76% | Winner |
| Kunj Malhotra | 114 | 35.51% | |
| None (disapproval of all listed candidates) | 28 | 8.72% | |
| Abstain (no vote for President) | 76 | ||
| (blank) | 33 |
Vice President of Fairfax Votes Cast: 349
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Md Ridwan Hossain Talukder | 139 | 39.83% | Run-off |
| Aishwarya Bhondge | 68 | 19.48% | Run-off |
| Harshal Yeole | 67 | 19.20% | |
| Aijaz Ahmed Mohammed | 47 | 13.47% | |
| None (disapproval of all listed candidates) | 28 | 8.02% | |
| Abstain (no vote for President) | 61 | ||
| (blank) | 20 |
Vice President of Mason Square (Arlington) Votes Cast: 293
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Zayd Hamid | 246 | 83.96% | Winner |
| None (disapproval of all listed candidates) | 47 | 16.04% | |
| Abstain (no vote for President) | 95 | ||
| (blank) | 42 |
Vice President of Science and Technology Votes Cast: 275
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Asritha Lakshmi Bontu | 229 | 83.27% | Winner |
| None (disapproval of all listed candidates) | 44 | 16.73% | |
| Abstain (no vote for President) | 108 | ||
| (blank) | 47 |
Director of Communications Votes Count: 316
| Candidate | Count | Percentage of Votes Cast | Result |
| Adam Rizzoli | 153 | 48.42% | Run-off |
| Aparna Shastri | 135 | 42.72% | Run-off |
| None (disapproval of all listed candidates) | 28 | 8.86% | |
| Abstain (no vote for President) | 70 | ||
| (blank) | 44 |
GAPSA Executive Officer Elections for 2025-2026
Voting Instructions
Currently enrolled degree-seeking graduate and professional students are eligible to vote in GAPSA Elections. Voting will be conducted online using Mason 360 beginning Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 12:00 AM and ending Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 11:55 PM. You will be prompted to log in with your Mason Net ID and password in order to access the ballot.
We will announce the election results on this page on Monday, April 28, 2025.
To learn about the candidates: Read candidacy statements and view Meet the Candidates video recordings by clicking here or continuing to scroll on this page.
If you have any questions about GAPSA elections, please contact Dr. Julie Choe Kim, advisor to GAPSA.
Vote now
Candidates for GAPSA Executive Office for 2025-2026
Please click on the candidate’s name for additional information, including their degree program, expected graduation date, full-time/part-time status, candidacy and biography statement, and availability description.
GAPSA Elections will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, through Thursday, April 24, 2025. Voting will take place via Mason360.
For more information about the expectations and duties of the Executive Officer positions and the elections process, see the Executive Officer Candidacy Information Packet and the GAPSA Constitution and Bylaws.
President
Nilima Mow
Executive Vice President
Kunj Malhotra
Xiaorong (Sherry) Shan
Vice President of Fairfax Campus
Aijaz Ahmed Mohammed
Aishwarya Bhondge
Harshal Yeole
Md Ridwan Hossain Talukder
Vice President of Mason Square (Arlington Campus)
Zayd Hamid
Vice President of Science and Technology Campus
Asritha Lakshmi Bontu
Director of Communications
Adam Rizzoli
Aparna Shastri
Meet the Candidates Session
Friday, April 18, 2025 | 12:30 – 1:30 PM
GAPSA’s Meet the Candidates session was held on Friday April 18, 2025 from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Candidates were asked to introduce themselves and offered their responses to numerous questions regarding leadership, communication, and advocacy.
You can find a recording of the meeting here.
Aparna Shastri, one of the candidates for Director of Communications, was unable to attend the meeting. You can find a recording of her answers to the same questions here.
GAPSA Executive Officer Elections Process for 2025 – 2026
GAPSA is pleased to announce the election process for 2025-2026 Executive Officer positions. All GAPSA officer positions are open for election, and they are as follows:
- President
- Executive Vice President
- Vice Presidents of Regional Campuses
- Vice President of Arlington (Mason Square)
- Vice President of Fairfax
- Vice President of Science and Technology
- Director of Communications
Graduate and professional students interested in running for any executive office should review the Executive Officer Candidacy Information Packet for important information about the positions, election process, election timeline, and how to apply. Additional responsibilities are outlined in the GAPSA Constitution and Bylaws.
To be considered for election for any Executive Officer positions, graduate and professional students must submit a complete GAPSA Executive Officer Candidacy Application online by Sunday, April 6, 2025, 11:55 PM.
Key Elections Information:
- GAPSA Executive Officer Candidacy Information Packet 2025-2026
- GAPSA Constitution
- GAPSA Bylaws
- GAPSA Executive Officer Candidacy Application (online form): Due Sunday, April 6 at 11:55 PM
Elections Timeline:
- Applications Available: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Applications Due: Sunday, April 6, 11:55 PM
- Review of Applications and Qualifications: Monday, April 7 – Friday, April 11, 2025
- Announcement of Candidates and General Campaigning: Monday, April 14 – Thursday, April 24, 2025.
- Meet the Candidates: Friday, April 18, 2025
- Election/Voting Opens: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 12:00 AM
- Election/Voting Closes: Thursday, April 24, 2025, 11:55 PM
- Election Results Announced: Monday, April 28, 2025
- Transition Meeting/Retreat: Friday, May 9, 2025
Why You Should Run for GAPSA Executive Office
Hear directly from past Executive Officers about why you should consider running for a GAPSA position and learn more about each role!
View GAPSA 2022-2023 Election Videos
Questions
If you have questions, please get in touch with Muna Al Taweel, Graduate Professional Assistant for Graduate Student Leadership and Advising and co-advisor to GAPSA, at [email protected].