Hadeel Elyazori, Candidate for Executive Vice President

Hadeel Elyazori, Candidate for Executive Vice President

Graduate Degree Program: Doctoral student, Information Sciences and Technology, College of Engineering and Computing (full-time student)

Expected Date of Graduation: May 2027

The campus of Academic Department: Fairfax

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

Biography and Candidate Statement

My name is Hadeel Elyazori, and I am a doctoral student in Information Technology within the College of Engineering and Computing. I am running for Executive Vice President because I believe that GAPSA deserves leadership that is deeply embedded in the graduate student experience and committed to listening to student concerns, and turning them where possible into concrete action. Throughout my academic journey, as a graduate and an undergraduate, I have consistently sought leadership roles that allow me to advocate for students and their needs, by strategically designing and building programs that can make a tangible difference. As the current GAPSA General Assembly Representative for the INFT PhD program, I have spent two years attending monthly meetings, bringing forward students’ concerns and connecting peers with resources at campus. As Graduate Student Representative for the Center for Medtech Innovation at Mason, I also pursue a parallel role where I serve as a bridge between graduate students and the center’s leadership, ensuring that students’ perspectives shape research center decisions, directions, and successes. On the International Student Advisory Board, I advocated for the academic, social, and career needs of doctoral international students to university administration. Beyond formal titles, my leadership has taken the form of direct action: helping implement mentorship initiatives pairing incoming students with experienced peers, amplifying impact stories from graduate researchers to build visibility and community pride, and listening to fellow students as they navigate challenges from qualifying exams to funding and work-life balance. If elected Executive Vice President, I will focus on advocating for increased graduate student travel funding so more students can present research at conferences; establishing career fairs and networking events tailored specifically to graduate and professional students; pushing for clearer guidelines and support structures around the student-advisor relationship, including accessible channels for students to raise concerns; advocating for expanded and affordable childcare options for graduate student parents; supporting smoother onboarding for new graduate students through orientation programming, resource guides, and peer mentorship connections; creating low-barrier social and peer-support programming for doctoral students whose demanding schedules often leave them isolated. My interdisciplinary background has given me the ability to work across boundaries and approach problems analytically and with empathy. I understand the breadth of the graduate experience at Mason because I have lived it as a researcher, teaching assistant, fellowship recipient, and engaged community member. I would be honored to serve as your Executive Vice President and work alongside the Executive Board to make GAPSA a stronger, more responsive voice for every graduate and professional student at George Mason University.

Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position

I am confident that I can meet the time commitments and expectations of the Executive Vice President position during 2026-2027 AY. The EVP role requires approximately seven hours per week on average, which includes biweekly Executive Board meetings, monthly General Assembly meetings, regular meetings with GAPSA advisors, committee participation, and events support. I have carefully considered these expectations and responsibilities alongside my other commitments and am prepared to fulfill them fully. During the AY 2026-2027, I will be a full time doctoral student. I am based on the Fairfax campus, which is where the majority of GAPSA meetings and university-level engagements take place, eliminating commute barriers to participation. My primary commitment will be my research assistantship, which is 20 hours per week. Having completed my coursework, I will not have class schedule conflicts or workload, which gives me significant flexibility in how I structure my weeks. My experience balancing coursework, research, teaching, leadership, and service throughout my graduate and undergraduate careers has prepared me to manage multiple responsibilities effectively, and I am committed to giving the EVP role the time and energy it requires.