Model UN: Creating a Strong Foundation for Global Citizenship at FDU

This spring, 16 students from FDU’s New Jersey campuses joined a group from the Vancouver Campus to participate in the National Model UN Conference held in New York City from April 6 to 1o. At the conference, students engaged in simulated U.N. committees and drafted resolutions on global problems, networked with peers worldwide, learned about different cultures and debated pressing issues while honing their negotiation and public-speaking skills.

It was very much an eye-opening experience for Sebastian Perez, a business major at the Metropolitan Campus, Global Scholar and head delegate for Model United Nations. “Meeting incredibly knowledgeable students from all over the world was unforgettable,” he said. “Being in that environment pushed me to challenge myself, to speak up, to research thoroughly and to help draft resolutions filled with bold and diverse ideas. It was a powerful and inspiring process that made diplomacy feel real and alive.”

The FDU delegation at the National Model UN Conference in New York City. With the students are Jobin Mojtabavi, left, director, student services and chief student experience officer (Van), and Diana Cvitan, third from left, University director of global education (Metro).

In preparation for the conference, the FDU Model United Nations (MUN) team hosted a Mock Session on March 22 at the Florham Campus to give participants a hands-on experience of how MUN works. According to Madelyn Ferrans, law (Flor), “the session helped students refine their skills, boost their confidence and strengthen their teamwork. The students spent the day engaging in various activities and collaborated with students from North Macedonia, who were part of our COIL Comparative Constitutional Law course.” FDU’s New Jersey students also connected via Zoom with Vancouver Campus students Andrea Banh, Prakriti Dhital and Nidia Hoang, who also attended the NMUN Conference.

Students who took part in the Mock Session were, front row, from left, Suhaib Jawad (Metro), Nancy Ayala (Metro), Erick Vialet (Metro), Jalanii Newman (Flor), Hinal Purohit (Metro), Marissa Almonte (Metro), Nadya Ayala (Metro) and Reina Lal Perez (Metro); and back row, from left, Sebastian Perez, head delegate (Metro), Pedro Motta (Flor), Sean Roberts (Metro) and Tracy Osawe (Flor). Not in photo are Metropolitan Campus students Kyndal Ganoe, Angelica Garcia and John Scozzafava; Florham Campus student Joshua Schlesinger; and Vancouver Campus delegates.

The FDU MUN student organization, which now has 20 members, first started at the Vancouver Campus and has since expanded to the Metropolitan and Florham campuses. Perez organized and led this year’s workshop. “His leadership has been exceptional, and he has helped create a sustainable program for our University,” Ferrans added.

Diana Cvitan, University director of global education (Metro), also commended the students’ enthusiastic involvement in the FDU Model UN team. “With participation from students across the three campuses and many majors — including many freshmen and sophomores — the future of this program looks exceptionally bright, a true testament to Sebastian’s efforts,” she said.

Members of the FDU MUN student organization joined other members of the University community at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women which was held from March 10 to 21 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The trip was organized by the Office of Global Education led by Diana Cvitan.

According to Kyle Kattelman, political science and director, Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning (Metro), and FDU MUN’s faculty adviser, the future of MUN rests on the University’s students. “The experience is incredibly rewarding, and they are immersed in a weeklong experience that bombards them with hands-on skills (e.g. public speaking, negotiating, research and writing) that will benefit them in the workforce,” he added. Perez also believes that it was a very transformative process that provides a platform that “allows us to make mistakes, to grow and to step into leadership with more purpose.” Students interested in joining FDU MUN may reach out to Kattelman at ktk94@fdu.edu.