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The Univeristy of New Haven’s award-winning Model United Nations program recently hosted Â鶹AVMUN, an immersive experience for local middle and high school students. Students from a dozen schools in the region visited the University for the conference, learning about the work and processes of the United Nations. It was also an exciting way for Â鶹AVs to share what they’ve learned while building their own leadership and organizational skills.

Directed by Chris Haynes, Ph.D., an associate professor of political science, international affairs, and national security, the University’s Model United Nations program has been generously supported by Phil Bartels ’11 Hon. and Susan Bartels, two of the University’s most generous benefactors.

Below, two students reflect on their experience at Â鶹AVMUN.

Sydney Altieri ’24

The University of New Haven’s Model United Nations program recently hosted its annual Â鶹AVMUN conference. Â鶹AVMUN is a one-day conference for middle and high school students across Connecticut, enabling them to have the chance to simulate the processes of the United Nations. This year, we had more than 115 middle and high school students participating from 12 schools across Connecticut and New York, making it the most successful conference since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acting as secretary-general, I had the opportunity to oversee the creation and progression of the conference from beginning to end. Working with Deepak Dinesh ’26, our outreach director, and Sean MacDonald ’24, our research director, I oversaw the administrative and logistical side of the organization. Since May, we worked tirelessly to reach out to Model United Nations program directors, create background guides for research, and organize a keynote speaker, among other logistical responsibilities.

Getting to watch these middle and high school students interact and create realistic solutions to the problems we created for them was amazing, but what was even better was watching the students develop a love for the process. Some of the students had attended MUN Academy over the summer, a for-credit course to provide them with exposure to the function and processes of the United Nations. The bonds these students had were only strengthened, and they expressed how happy they were to see and work with each other again.

Serving as Â鶹AVMUN 2023's secretary-general was an unforgettable experience that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. It allowed me to embrace the complexities of international affairs, deepen my understanding of diplomacy, and forge lasting connections with like-minded individuals. This journey not only enriched my personal and professional development but also reinforced my belief in the power of Model United Nations as a platform for fostering positive change in the world.

I urge other students to consider becoming involved with here at the University of New Haven, as it provides an opportunity for growth and development that cannot be found anywhere else.

Sean MacDonald ’24

As a part of the Â鶹AVMUN team, I had the opportunity to help plan an event that helped the University engage with the surrounding communities and build interest in the University’s award-winning Model United Nations program. This year, I had the role of research director.

Over the summer, I put together the background guides and position-paper criteria for the students. Background guides consist of vital information such as historical context of the conference topics and guidance on further research, and position papers are short documents that describe a country’s position on the topic of the conference. I also recruited volunteers from the University’s MUN to serve as the dais, which are the people who ensure the committees run smoothly and stay on task.

All of this hard work paid off on the day of conference. More than 100 students came to the University to play the role of countries from across the globe to solve important global issues. They modeled excellent diplomacy and problem-solving skills. Though most of my work occurred before conference, I was still active on the day of by assisting the other volunteers and finalizing awards for the best delegates and teams.

This was a great experience and gave me the opportunity to give back to a program that has helped me improve my own skills and work ethic. It was great to see future Â鶹AVs get a taste of what Â鶹AVMUN has to offer them.

Sydney Altieri ’24 is a psychology major at the University of New Haven and the Â鶹AVMUN 2023 secretary-general. Sean MacDonald ’24 is an international affairs major and research director of Â鶹AVMUN.