Share this Story
VWU Delegation Earns Honorable Mention at National Model United Nations Conference
The 16-member student delegation traveled to New York to address current global issues
University News | April 24, 2023
A 16-member delegation from Virginia Wesleyan University recently returned from a successful adventure in New York for the National Model United Nations conference held April 2-7, where they represented Venezuela. The student delegation, members of James Moskowitz’s political science class, started preparing for their role in the simulation at the beginning of the semester by learning about the United Nations and its various programs, goals and agencies. They also conducted research relevant to Venezuela’s positions on a variety of issues, including climate change, refugees, housing and nuclear waste disposal. In addition, the VWU head delegates, Joshua Spicer and David Browne, ran an in-class simulation to provide the students with an understanding of the frantic and action-packed pace of the conference before their journey to New York.
Fostering global citizenship since 1927, the National Model United Nations (NMUN) is the world's largest and oldest ongoing university-level Model UN. NMUN annually draws participants from more than 130 UN Member States to address current global issues while offering experiential learning programs that provide students with a forum to hone skills in diplomacy, negotiation, critical thinking, compromise, public speaking, writing and research.
“Upon arriving at the conference, the students were quickly swept up into the proceedings,” Moskowitz said. “The session opened with a keynote address by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the representative of the United States to the United Nations.”
Thomas-Greenfield spoke about the enthusiasm and energy younger generations bring to the issues that UN member states currently face. She also recounted how she enjoys bringing the United Nations to communities around the world and how doing so can make the work of the international organization more real. In this case, she welcomed more than 1,500 delegates to New York—with 50% of students visiting from universities and colleges abroad—with the hope that the delegates would come together in the spirit of collaboration toward solving our shared challenges.
The VWU delegates worked in committee meetings, formal debates, informal sessions, and working groups, to focus on the topics at hand. As representatives of Venezuela, Virginia Wesleyan students served in the General Assembly (GA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Human Rights Council (HRC), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In addition to Head Delegates Spicer and Browne, Virginia Wesleyan’s Honorable Delegation included: Kainaat Trehan, GA1; Abigail Mahoney, GA1; Hector Quinteros, GA2; Daniela Angeles, GA2; Elizabeth Ross, GA3; Emily Lewis, GA3; Victoria Gonzalez, HRC; Rhian Tramontana, HRC; Andrew Steiner, UNHCR; Jonas Juetz, UNHCR; Alexis Baile, UNEA; Breanna Wimbush, UNEA; Chase Yew, IAEA; and Paul Nelson, IAEA.
“The students were particularly proud of the progress they made on the basis of relationships they formed within the small-group settings,” Moskowitz said. “For their role in the conference and simulation, the Marlins delegation earned an honorable mention. This was announced to applause at the closing ceremonies in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters at East 42nd Street.”
Students interested in participating in the Model UN class next year should talk with their advisors, Moskowitz said, and keep an eye out for the opportunity to apply in the fall. He also encouraged interested students to reach out to him or to Assistant Professor of Political Science Modupe Oshikoya in the VWU Political Science Department.
Learn more about Political Science at VWU.
Adapted from a report written by Lecturer in Political Science James Moskowitz.