Tyler Martinez, Candidate for Vice President of Fairfax Campus
Graduate Degree Program: Doctoral student, Writing and Rhetoric, English Department, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (full-time student)
Expected Date of Graduation: May 2025
Campus of Academic Department: Fairfax
Campus(es) of Classes, Work, and/or Residence: Fairfax
Biography and Candidate Statement
As of Spring 2024, I have had the privilege of being a student at GMU for three years. During this time, I have had the honor of serving as a GAPSA representative for the Writing and Rhetoric Ph.D. program, and I have taken the initiative to establish and lead the student chapter of the Rhetoric Society of America at Mason. In this leadership role, my priorities have been fostering community among graduate students in our program, facilitating open communication between faculty and students, and organizing events featuring distinguished scholars in my field. I have gained valuable experience as a research assistant and instructor of record in the English department. Leveraging my training as a scholar of rhetoric and community writing, I am confident in my ability to listen to the concerns of the Graduate and Professional students on Fairfax’s campus and effectively advocate for the community. If given the opportunity, I am committed to bringing my characteristic empathy, compassion, and strong sense of justice to my roles as a voting member of the GAPSA executive committee and representative of graduate and professional students.
Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position
During the 2024-2025 academic year, my commitments are to my dissertation research and my work as a research assistant. I have completed coursework and will soon advance to candidacy in the Ph.D. in Writing and Rhetoric program. I will be passing my leadership role in the Rhetoric Society of America at Mason to another student in the department and would be able to devote much of my attention and time to this role. Hopefully, y’all will give me a chance to represent GTAs, GRAs, and all graduate and professional students working and studying on Mason’s Fairfax campus.