Vikas Velagapudi, Candidate for President

Vikas Velagapudi, Candidate for President

Graduate Degree Program: Master’s student, Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computing (full-time student)

Expected Date of Graduation: May 2024

Campus of Academic Department: Fairfax

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

Biography and Candidate Statement

My name is Vikas Velagapudi, and I am excited to apply for the President position in the GAPSA Executive Officer Candidacy Application at GMU. I am currently a Master’s student in Computer Science, and I have actively participated in various student organizations throughout my education. As a member of SWECHA and UL, I have gained valuable leadership experience and developed a passion for advocating for student needs and concerns. I believe that my skills and experiences make me an ideal candidate for the President position, and I am eager to contribute to the success of GAPSA.

As a student leader, I understand the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and strategic planning. If elected as the President of GAPSA, I would prioritize the following goals: First, I would improve communication between the student body and the university administration. This would involve regularly communicating with students about upcoming events, university policies, and other relevant information. Additionally, I would advocate for students’ needs and concerns to the administration to ensure that student voices are heard and acted upon. Second, I would collaborate with other student organizations to create a more vibrant and inclusive campus community. This would involve working with other student leaders to organize joint events, share resources, and foster a sense of community among students from different backgrounds. Third, I would focus on strategic planning to ensure that GAPSA remains a strong and effective organization. This would involve developing clear goals and objectives, establishing effective leadership structures, and seeking out opportunities to improve the organization’s operations. In summary, I am passionate about advocating for student needs and concerns and committed to making GMU a more vibrant and inclusive community. If elected as the President of GAPSA, I would work tirelessly to achieve these goals and ensure that the organization remains a valuable resource for all GMU students.

Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position

As a Master’s student in Computer Science with a relatively manageable course load, I am confident that I can meet the time commitments and expectations of the position. I am fully committed to the role and understand that it requires a significant time investment. For the 2023-2024 academic year, my schedule will consist of three classes in the fall semester and one class in the spring semester. While this will take up a significant portion of my time, I have made a deliberate effort to ensure that my class schedule allows me to dedicate a significant amount of time to my responsibilities as President of GAPSA. In addition to my classes, I work part-time as a Project Assistant in University Life. While this is an ongoing commitment, I am confident that I can balance my work responsibilities with my duties as President of GAPSA. I have a strong work ethic and am capable of managing my time effectively to ensure that I can fulfill all of my commitments. Overall, I am committed to meeting the time commitments and expectations of the position. I am excited about the opportunity to serve as President of GAPSA and am fully committed to dedicating the time and energy necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the role.