GISA Spring Election 2025 Candidate Profiles: Jai Mulani for Vice President of Master’s Programs

In conversation with Jai Mulani, International Law 1st Year.

Q. What makes you the ideal candidate for your role, and how do you believe your background will help you succeed in this position?

I’ve spent the past year understanding how student representation actually works its strengths, its gaps, and the quiet places where things stall. As a Class Representative, I wasn’t the loudest in the room, but I was consistent. That helped me see where presence matters most. I’ve followed GISA’s work closely, not from the sidelines, but from within, and that gives me a solid foundation to take things forward with realism and care.

Q. How do you plan to approach the role in a way that ensures the smooth running of GISA’s operations and fosters a collaborative atmosphere?

Coordination, not duplication. That’s what I want to bring to the role. I believe in respecting the work already being done by Class Reps, initiatives, or the outgoing board and building mechanisms to connect and strengthen these efforts. My approach is rooted in empathy, follow-up, and making sure that communication doesn’t stay stuck in email threads or forum minutes

Q. What past experiences have prepared you for the challenges of this role, and how will you use these experiences to improve GISA’s  efficiency?

Being a Class Rep showed me how policies, student needs, and administrative timelines often move at different speeds. I’ve worked to bridge those gaps through departmental meetings and feedback coordination. I’ve also spent a lot of time with Forum action points and minutes learning where things bottleneck and where they break through. That quiet groundwork is what I’ll bring to the VP position: making sure what we raise gets tracked, not just shelved.

Q. If elected, what would be your primary goal and how would you ensure its successful implementation during your tenure?

I want to make sure that no agenda point be it feedback reform, disability accommodations, or curriculum changes sits unresolved due to a lack of follow-up. While misconduct reform is deeply urgent and close to my heart, I don’t believe we should approach these goals as a checklist. They’re interconnected, and my focus will be on moving each of them forward through timelines, student-informed policy input, and regular accountability reporting.

Q. How do you plan to make GISA more accessible and transparent for students, particularly when it comes to administrative processes and decision-making?

First, we need to simplify the way we communicate. Many students don’t have the time to read long minutes or track forum outcomes. I’d push for short, clear updates and indicators students can actually follow. I also want to create shared spaces virtual or in person wherein concerns can be raised and responses tracked. Transparency is not just about publishing info, it’s about making the student body feel like they’re part of the process.

Q.What are three core values you bring to your role?

Consistency. Accountability. Approachability.

I believe showing up matters, but so does knowing when to listen and when to step up and push back. I try to lead with care and clarity even in difficult conversations.

Q. Lastly, a few creative ways or plans of action (chance to do something different )

I’d love to build a real-time student input board where ideas can be added and voted on publicly helping GISA crowdsource priorities directly. Lastly, I’d love to pilot regular informal meet-ups between reps and students less formal than the forums, but just as important for building trust.

Thank you.