Student Development Opportunities

Opportunities in Women and Gender Studies

Graduate Professional Assistant

Women and Gender Studies Center

UNIVERSITY LIFE
 
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS

Mission:
University Life cares for the whole student by promoting inclusive well-being and fostering lifelong learning – preparing ethical leaders for the world.

Values:
TOGETHER, we achieve our mission through an unwavering commitment to our values:
 
Inclusion and Equity
We are committed to cultivating an environment of engagement, connection, and belonging that is respectful and fair for everyone. 

Leadership for Positive Change
We are committed to cultivating leaders who critically examine and understand the potential impact of their decisions and act ethically. 

Well-Being
We are committed to cultivating an environment of understanding and fulfillment of both individual and community well-being that promotes purpose, vitality, engagement, and resilience. 

Collaborative Community
We are committed to cultivating a supportive network of colleagues that shares ideas, learns and creates together, and develops authentic connections. 
 
Strategic Transformation
We are committed to dynamic action in creating meaningful solutions to anticipate and meet the needs of an ever-changing community. 


Mission Statement
The mission of the Women and Gender Studies Center is to bridge academic coursework with student development, leadership, and coalition building. We are designed to provide opportunities for intellectual, personal, and social inquiry and interrogation related to sex; gender; gender identity/expression; sexuality; intersections with race, ethnicity, class, (dis) ability, age, nationality, immigration and citizenship status, and religion, through feminist, queer and multiracial lenses, with a focus on global and transnational issues and public policy. 

Function:


The Graduate Professional Assistant is a 20-hour per week graduate assistantship in the Women and Gender Studies Center which is housed in the Division of University Life at George Mason University. As a member of the Women and Gender Studies team, the Graduate Professional Assistant reports directly to the WGST Associate Director, Holly Mason Badra.  By providing support to student staff members and overseeing programs and initiatives for the center, the GPA will assist us in expanding our reach, impact, and effectiveness of our programs, resources, and student-facing opportunities.

 

Required Skills/Qualifications:

  • Must be enrolled in one of George Mason University’s Graduate Programs for the Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 academic year
  • Background or interest in at least one of these areas related to our mission: social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, intersectionality, activism, or community engagement
  • Strong professionalism and communication skills
  • Practiced in troubleshooting/problem solving, thinking creatively and critically, tapping into patience and compassion, and in working with people of diverse backgrounds and identities
  • Effective organizational and project management skills (including being self-motivated, responsible, reliable, and flexible); a strong sense of accountability adhering to deadlines
  • Strong interpersonal skills with a genuine commitment to providing support and assistance to students, faculty, and staff
  • Experience with public speaking and/or program outreach
  • Familiarity or experience using social media to engage a variety of audience
    Experience with Canva or an ability to learn new academic technology systems successfully 
  • Must be able to work in person at our physical center in the Johnson Center (with hours scheduled based on availability Mondays-Fridays between 9:00am-5:00pm

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in Humanities or other related fields
  • Currently pursuing a PhD or terminal degree in Humanities or other related fields
     

Position Responsibilities:

  • Project Management: Ensures all elements of projects and events meet agreed upon deadlines and checkpoints from start to finish
  • Physically staffs the Women and Gender Studies Center (JC 240K) for 20 hours a week
  • Staffing the center includes:
    • customer service
    • greeting guests
    • having guests sign in
    • supporting guests with our resources such as printing, coffee, tea, library
    • connecting students to other offices and resources on campus as needed
    • trouble shooting technical issues in the center
    • keeping the center tidy
    • completing opening and closing tasks
    • and other duties as needed
  • Works closely with the team leads, Director, and Associate Director to ensure smooth functioning of the center and related events
  • Collaborates with other center staff, program directors, and other CHSS and university programs, departments, and offices.
  • Provides event support by working with the Associate Director (and Director at times) to coordinate and organize events, market events, staff events, and more
  • Supports marketing and growth initiatives, including engaging in some research and data collection and conducting class visits as well as tabling sessions
  • Supports our online presence through website editing and social media efforts
  • Assists with the development and execution of pre-semester training programs for center staff
  • Conducts outreach to promote our center and programs among students university-wide
  • Alongside the Associate Director, works with other center staff on long-term WGST Center Library project, including organization, development, and amplification

GPA Time Commitments:

The Graduate Professional Assistant position is designed for a 20 hour per week work commitment.  At times, the work may require extended hours and/or night and weekend work hours.


Compensation & Other Terms:
The Graduate Professional Assistant position will be paid a minimum stipend of:
9.5-Month GPA Contract (August 10, 2026 – May 27, 2027): $21,650
 
Stipends will be paid on the 1st and 16th of the month for the duration of employment contract period;
 
Other terms for the position contract include:
Tuition grant up to the 6 graduate credits at the equivalent in-state rate, not to exceed $4,800.00 per semester; master’s degree students (with exception of MFA students) who are out-of-state do not receive in-state tuition rates;
Participate and attend all scheduled session of the University Life Graduate Staff Academy, hosted in-person, each month, as class schedule allows;
 
This GPA position is a 9.5 month GPA with the possibility of renewal for a second academic year. The week of August 10th can be done remotely.
 
Contract Dates for this role are:
9.5-Month: August 10, 2026 through May 24, 2027
 
All information, including rules and regulations, regarding all graduate assistantships can be located on the Provost Graduate Division website: Graduate Hiring Rules and Procedures


To apply for this position, please do so by:


Submitting a letter of interest, resume, and provide the contact information for three professional references by Sunday, April 26, 2026 to:


Holly Mason Badra
Associate Director of Women and Gender Studies
hmason2@gmu.edu
703-993-1185
https://wmst.gmu.edu/


Note: In your letter of interest, be sure to address why you specifically want to work in the Women and Gender Studies Center. Please also talk about your strategies for staying organized and your experience working collaboratively within teams.
 
If you have questions, reach out to Holly at hmason2@gmu.edu