Adam Rizzoli, Candidate for Director of Communication

Graduate Degree Program: Master’s student, Public Administration, Schar School of Policy and Government (Part-time student).

Expected Date of Graduation: May 2026

Campus of Academic Department: Mason Square (Arlington)

Campus(es) of Classes, Work, and/or Residence: Mason Square (Arlington)

Additional Statement for Run-Off Election

I am running for Director of Communications because the federal government and our university’s governing board attack our community. We lost grant funding that supports STEM research. Students lost jobs and visas. This Thursday, the university board could worsen this crisis by voting to eliminate student support programs.

GAPSA must respond by organizing students to advocate against these actions and bring affected students relief. Our advocacy to policymakers and administrators must bring in more voices from the graduate community.

I dedicated my campaign to reaching them.

I reached dozens of students at the Sci-Tech, Mason Square, and Fairfax campuses. My campaign’s public content on LinkedIn (adam-rizzoli) and Instagram (@adam.rizzoli) signaled an opportunity for graduate students to select a leader willing to strengthen GAPSA’s advocacy. Our community responded strongly in favor, giving me a plurality of votes cast for Director of Communications.

Now, I want to continue communicating.

I will work with professors to introduce GAPSA to students through classroom presentations. I want GAPSA to engage affected communities by showing up and sharing stories, particularly to the university’s governing board. I want GAPSA to be present for you.

Above all, your vote for me embraces the graduate student desire for change.

Biography and Candidate Statement

Hello! I’m running for Director of Communications because I want to strengthen the connection between graduate students and GAPSA. Social media is a powerful tool for building community, and I hope to use it to raise awareness about GAPSA’s work, boost engagement, and increase participation in events. By connecting students more effectively, we can enhance GAPSA’s credibility and advocacy power. I’ve seen firsthand how impactful communication can be through my role as President of UBU, a disability advocacy organization. I led our social media strategy—creating content for Instagram, email updates, and flyers—which played a central role in growing the organization from the ground up to hundreds of active members. Through that experience, I learned the importance of timely, engaging posts and interactive content that helps students stay connected and involved. I also have strong ties to the George Mason community. I began as an undergraduate here in 2021, and many of my friends and peers are now graduate students. I’ve been a graduate student myself for the past year, and I’ve held leadership roles in several student organizations and student government. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of our community and how to effectively represent its diverse voices. Thank you for your support—I’d be honored to serve as your Director of Communications.

Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position

Yes. I have classes (2 classes), I will try to work a part-time job, and I run an RSO called UBU at GMU.

Experience with using graphic design tools, including but not limited to Canva

I have considerable experience using Canva and other graphic design tools for social media. My preference is to use Canva and meme generators depending on the context of the message.

Experience with using social media for outreach and engagement

My experience is mostly from my own social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, and the organization accounts that I’ve run on Instagram. My goal is to build organizations through increased membership and turnout at events.

Experience with website content management, including but not limited to using WordPress

I have designed and built websites before, with limited experience with WordPress. I have more experience with maintaining websites, particularly with coding.