Aparna Shastri, Candidate for Director of Communication
Graduate Degree Program: Doctoral candidate, Cultural Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Full-time student)
Expected Date of Graduation: July 2027
Campus of Academic Department: Fairfax
Campus(es) of Classes, Work, and/or Residence: Fairfax
Biography and Candidate Statement
I am a doctoral candidate in the Cultural Studies program at George Mason University. I completed my undergraduate degree in Electronic Media from Devi Ahilya University’s Educational Multimedia Research Center, in Indore, India and I have a Master of Arts degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Media from Clemson University, South Carolina. Currently, I am focusing on my dissertation on changing televisual reception practices in middle class audiences in India post the advent of streaming platforms. Throughout my undergrad and grad school journeys, I have had extensive experience in marketing communications, web management, and multimedia content creation, both through coursework and work opportunities. I have developed strong skills in crafting engaging messages for a range of platforms, including social media, flyers, newsletters, and videos. I am proficient in video and audio editing, and graphic design. I strongly believe in engaged, clear, and timely communication in any work-related or academic environment. My work as a GTA at Mason has given me relevant experience in teaching diverse and interdisciplinary courses, both in virtual and in-person settings. These experiences led me to gain skills useful in delivering effective, precise, and targeted messaging. Additionally, I contributed to the Center for Humanities Research’s summer project ‘Alienation and Belonging’, where I worked as part of a team collecting oral history narratives. This role further allowed me to develop my skills in organizing and disseminating information, as I also designed a flyer (as a final deliverable) for our official partner, Tenants and Workers United. Having served as a Graduate Media Assistant at Clemson University, where I supported the College of Humanities websites by managing content and updates, I am also proficient in basic web management. I strongly believe in fostering a supportive graduate student community, and have been working towards that goal by dedicating my time to the Cultural Studies Student Organizing Committee, previously as co-chair and currently as treasurer. Through the role of DC, I am excited about the opportunity to continue building on these skills and supporting initiatives that create meaningful change in academia and beyond.
Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position
Yes, I will be able to successfully meet the time commitments and expectations of this position. In the 2025-2026 academic year, I will be focusing on writing my dissertation and will have a GTA contract (20 hours a week) with the School of Integrative Studies at Mason. I will also be involved with the Cultural Studies Student Organizing committee, the RSO of my PhD program Cultural studies(volunteer work). I will be sure to participate in all biweekly GAPSA meetings and fulfill all requirements of the role.
Experience with using graphic design tools, including but not limited to Canva
I have learned Adobe set of image/video editing tools and did coursework on
crafting messages using digital rhetorical tools, distance learning modules(Camtasia) and a portfolio website. I also incorporate visual learning tools(like short films) in my pedagogical methods. I use Canva for flyers, presentations(academic and organizational purposes).
Experience with using social media for outreach and engagement
I have helped in compiling newsletters and important information sets for
newly admitted grad students in the Cultural Studies PhD program. I actively share, respond, and engage with my graduate student community- be it for curricular or academic work, for my student organization, or for generally checking on friends and colleagues.
Experience with website content management, including but not limited to using WordPress
I have used Cascade web management system proficiently for my role as Graduate Media Assistant during my MA. This role involved having knowledge of basic coding, timely updates and maintenance of websites after due team-coordination, and creating and editing textual and visual content for the websites.
Samples of previous work
