Sara Nadeem, Candidate for Vice President of Mason Square Campus

Sara Nadeem, Candidate for Vice President of Mason Square Campus

Graduate Degree Program: Master’s student, Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (full-time student)

Expected Date of Graduation: May 2027

Campus of Academic Department: Fairfax, Mason Square (Arlington)

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

Biography and Candidate Statement

My name is Sara Nadeem, and I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship. I currently work as a Graduate Assistant for Basic Needs at Mason Square, where I have been closely involved in building awareness of the Patriot Pantry and making sure students know about it, feel comfortable using it, and can access it easily. Since the pantry had just opened, a major part of my role from the beginning was outreach and relationship-building across Mason Square. We worked to build connections with University Life, GAPSA, and different student organizations so that students would actually know this resource existed and feel comfortable using it. That experience has shown me how important visibility, communication, and campus partnerships are, especially at Mason Square, where many students are balancing classes, work, and other responsibilities. It is also part of why I feel prepared to represent Mason Square students through GAPSA. One of the things I’ve learned in this role is that student needs don’t always fit into office hours . After my own experience showing up to an evening class exhausted and hungry with nothing to eat, I realized graduate students coming in after work or long commutes needed something fast and accessible. That led us to set up a grab-and-go station ramen and mac and cheese right next to the microwave. It was met with positive feedback from students, with comments like “very helpful on long days” and “very useful when I forget to pack lunch.” Small changes like that may seem simple, but they can make campus feel more supportive and more aware of what students are actually dealing with. That is the kind of approach I would bring to this position, shaped by my own experience being a student at Mason Square. I already have experience doing programming and outreach around students’ basic needs at Mason Square, and that work has shown me how important it is to meet students where they are and pay attention to what they actually need, especially in a campus environment where many graduate students are balancing coursework, work, and other responsibilities. As Vice President, I would bring that same attentiveness to student concerns and a strong commitment to making sure Mason Square students feel heard and represented.

Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position

Yes, I would be able to meet the time commitments and expectations of the position. During the 2026-2027 academic year, I will be balancing graduate coursework along with on-campus work and other responsibilities, but I am confident in my ability to manage my time and meet the commitments of this role.