Tanzia Haq, Candidate for Vice President of Mason Square Campus
Graduate Degree Program: Master’s student, Public Administration, Schar School of Policy and Government (full-time student)
Expected Date of Graduation: May 2026
Campus of Academic Department:Mason Square (Arlington)
Campus(es) of Classes, Work, and/or Residence: Mason Square (Arlington)
Biography and Candidate Statement
My name is Tanzia Amreen Haq and I am a student in the Master of Public Administration program at the Schar School concentrating in Environmental Science and Public Policy. I have a 3.82 GPA and, since my second semester, I have worked as a Learning Communities Assistant for the Schar School undergraduate department. I took on this role because I wanted to gain a deeper insight into the American academic life and help students build community and make the most out of their time at Mason. Before coming to Mason, I worked as a journalist, then I was hired as a communications officer at BRAC, one of the biggest Non-Governmental Organizations in the world, and then I worked at World Vision Bangladesh as a communications specialist working in climate communications and humanitarian emergency management. Each of these roles taught me the importance of community-centered leadership and building space for representation of all voices in institutional decision-making. When I first arrived at Mason, I never saw myself running for a role like the Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Student Association, but Mason has been a transformative experience for my leadership skills and for my personal growth. Having the opportunity to hear from local government heads and from policy experts at Capitol Hill have inspired me to seek leadership roles that can enable me to help others. Since starting at Mason, I have grown into a confident speaker, have learned from exceptional teachers and leaders, and felt supported enough to thrive and excel in my academic pursuits. I have also become friends with truly incredible people and I want to help them and others coming to Mason feel as supported as I have and be inspired to lead as well. I want to run for this role because I believe the goals I have stated above align with GAPSA’s purpose: to cultivate an inclusive and empowered graduate community where students get all the resources they need to thrive academically, professionally, and socially. Like most international students, and graduate students in general, I have had my share of challenges along with the opportunities Mason provided. It is not easy to be far from home and balance school, work, and personal health and wellbeing. The support I received from the Graduate Division and Graduate Student Life were instrumental in helping me stay on track with my academic and professional goals. I want the same for any new student flying thousands of miles to take a chance and start a new chapter at Mason. I want to help GAPSA in its efforts to ensure all challenges to graduate students are understood and addressed. If chosen, I will advocate for graduate students across the university and also in engagement with outside authorities. I will uphold diverse representation while also learning and growing my cultural sensitivity working with Mason’s diverse student body. It will be an honor to serve and be part of this prestigious organization if I am chosen. Thank you for your consideration.
Availability and Commitment to the Time and Expectations of the Position
My schedule is quite flexible for the Spring Semester as it is my last semester at Mason. My current job as the Learning Communities Assistant is coming to an end on December 12, 2025.