Nilima Hakim Mow, Candidate for President
Graduate Degree Program: Doctoral student, English, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (full-time student)
Expected date of graduation: May 2028
At what campus is your academic department located?
Fairfax
At what campus(es) do you attend classes, work, and/or reside?
Fairfax
Biography and Candidate Statement
My name is Nilima Hakim Mow, and I am a PhD student in the Linguistics program within the English department. I currently serve as the President of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) and previously represented the Linguistics doctoral program as a General Assembly (GA) representative. My research interests include language documentation and revitalization, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and TESOL. As an international student, researcher, and student leader, I bring a strong commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and building inclusive academic communities. Serving as GAPSA President has been one of the most meaningful parts of my graduate journey. In this role, I represent graduate and professional students across Mason and work closely with university leadership, faculty, and student representatives to ensure graduate student voices are included in institutional discussions and decision-making. My leadership approach is grounded in listening, collaboration, and service. During my current term, I have focused on strengthening GAPSA’s visibility and empowering GA representatives. I have raised key issues affecting graduate students, including funding concerns, visa-related challenges, access to legal resources for international students, matters related to academic freedom, and student-advisor relationships. Creating spaces for open dialogue has also been a priority. Initiatives such as Open Talk with University Leadership allowed graduate students to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas directly with university leaders. Advocating for student parents has also been an important focus. I have engaged with university leadership to explore childcare support and resources for student parents. My experience working across university committees, collaborating with leadership, and leading a diverse Executive Board has prepared me well to continue serving in this role. Now, I better understand how university decision-making processes work and how graduate student voices can be effectively represented. I am seeking reelection because I remain committed to strengthening GAPSA’s role in representing graduate students across the university. If reelected, I will continue building on this work. One priority is initiating a task force, focused on student-advisor relationships, to better understand the challenges students may face and to develop resources, guidelines, and training that support healthy, respectful mentorship practices. Another priority will be strengthening support structures and services for graduate and professional students by advocating for increased funding opportunities. Additional priorities include advocating for affordable housing, childcare support, transportation accessibility, and accessible mental health resources. Supporting international students will also remain a priority through improved resource creation, expanded funding and professional development opportunities, and support in navigating academic life in the United States. I will also prioritize building a stronger sense of community by organizing events that celebrate diverse cultures and create inclusive spaces for all graduate and professional students, including contemporary students, international students, part-time students, and full-time students. GAPSA plays a vital role in representing graduate and professional students at Mason. I remain committed to ensuring that every graduate student feels supported, heard, and valued. I would be honored to continue serving our graduate community and respectfully ask for your support in the upcoming election.
Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position
Yes, I will be able to meet the time commitments and expectations of the position. As a Research Assistant, I have a 20-hour work commitment per week, and I do not anticipate taking on additional employment during the 2026–2027 academic year. I have completed my coursework and will be in the dissertation writing stage, which provides greater flexibility in managing my schedule compared to previous semesters. With my prior leadership experience—particularly serving as the current GAPSA President—I am familiar with the responsibilities and time commitments of the role. Combined with strong time management and organizational skills, I am confident in my ability to balance my academic responsibilities while continuing to serve the graduate and professional student community effectively.