Bloomington, Indiana
Email: VaselForIU@gmail.com
Website: www.VaselForIU.com
Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky: @VaselForIU
Ph.D., Physics, Indiana University Bloomington, 2021
For twelve years, I've called Bloomington home. My journey at Indiana University began as a graduate student in physics and evolved into a profound commitment to university governance, student advocacy, and institutional improvement. Today, I’m running for the IU Board of Trustees to bring “Lux et Veritas”—Light and Truth—back to university governance through transparency, shared governance, and principled leadership.
A Deep Understanding of University Governance
What distinguishes my candidacy is firsthand experience with IU’s governance systems from multiple perspectives. As Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO), I chaired the Student Affairs Committee and represented graduate students in key university decisions. Simultaneously serving as the graduate student representative on the Bloomington Faculty Council provided me insight into policy discussions affecting the entire campus community.
I was honored to be selected for the search committee for IU’s Vice President of Research, gaining valuable experience with upper-administrative hiring processes. Perhaps most significantly, I helped lead constitutional reforms that transformed GPSO into the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) as it exists today, demonstrating my ability to implement meaningful improvements to governance structures.
For these efforts, I was recognized with the inaugural Yolanda Treviño Service Award from GPSO, acknowledging my commitment to enhancing student life at IU.
Creating Tangible Change
My time at IU wasn't just about participating in governance—it was about producing results that improved campus life:
- I served on the Student Assistant Initiative in 2014, helping establish a food pantry for university community members struggling to make ends meet
- I addressed graduate student mental health challenges, working to expand resources and reduce stigma
- I helped restructure student academic appointee pay schedules so they could receive their first paycheck before having to pay their first full month's rent
- I supported sustainable practices through fossil fuel divestment advocacy with the IU Foundation
- In 2022, I organized an open letter signed by over 1,300 alumni supporting graduate students’ right to fair labor practices and collective bargaining
These experiences taught me valuable lessons about how thoughtful governance can create a more inclusive, supportive university environment.
Scientific Approach to Complex Challenges
My doctoral research in experimental particle physics required meticulous analysis, collaboration across institutions, and evidence-based approaches to complex problems—skills directly applicable to university trusteeship. Scientific training instilled in me a commitment to follow data rather than assumptions, ask probing questions, and pursue truth even when inconvenient—the essence of IU’s motto.
Today, I apply these analytical skills in the national security sector, where I help address pressing challenges by translating complex technical information into actionable insights. This experience has sharpened my ability to evaluate multifaceted proposals, understand complex budgets, and make decisions based on evidence rather than ideology.
A Vision for IU’s Future
I believe effective university governance requires the following:
Transparency in decision-making. Stakeholders deserve to understand not just what decisions are made but why they are made. Too often, university communities are presented with outcomes without insight into deliberations. As trustee, I’ll advocate for more transparent processes and clear communication.
Authentic shared governance. Faculty, staff, and student voices must be incorporated from the beginning of deliberations, not merely as an afterthought. My experience on both sides of governance conversations has shown me how valuable diverse perspectives are in creating effective policies.
Principled leadership. University trustees must stand firm on academic values even when facing external pressure or political headwinds. I'll be an independent voice who asks tough questions and upholds IU’s core mission.
Financial stewardship. We must balance innovation with fiscal responsibility while prioritizing the university's educational mission. This means making strategic investments that enhance student experiences while ensuring IU remains accessible and affordable.
The Trustee IU Needs
Alumni-elected trustees bring crucial outside perspective while maintaining deep connection to the university’s mission. My multifaceted background gives me comprehensive understanding of university operations from the ground up—a perspective often missing from boards primarily composed of business leaders and major donors.
As someone who has experienced IU as a student, campus leader, and now alumnus, I understand how board decisions cascade through the university system and affect daily campus life. This insight, combined with my analytical training and governance experience, makes me uniquely qualified to serve as your trustee.
I’m running because I believe in an IU that honors its traditions while embracing necessary change, that values diverse perspectives, and that always puts students first. I believe in an IU where transparency, shared governance, and principled leadership are not just ideals but everyday practices.
I would be honored to earn your support and your vote in this election. Together, we can ensure Indiana University remains true to its highest ideals while meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow.