STUDENT NEWS
Developing Diplomacy: Students Think Globally at Model UN
Nearly 20 political science students joined Professor Katherine Bryant at the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York in March. Representing the delegations from Solomon Islands and Thailand, the students stepped into the shoes of diplomats, discussing pressing global issues and learning the art of negotiation. The immersive experience simulating United Nations sessions helped them develop skills such as critical thinking, compromise, public speaking, writing and research.
The group representing Thailand earned an Honorable Mention from NMUN staff, and Emma Silver ’25, Emily Lindblad ’26 and Ella Oostema ’26 won Position Paper Awards for their succinct policy statements reflecting the views of their member state.
Emily says she and other students learned to think critically and be empathetic to people from other nations. “We’re growing up in a polarized, media-saturated world, and a lot of students like me may not understand a lot of systems beyond what we experience,” she says.
She made friends with participants from the United States, Germany, Seoul and France. “I also enjoyed spending time with a small group of Westmont students, many of whom I didn’t know beforehand,” she says. “We also got to explore New York City. It made me realize how much bigger my world can be beyond Santa Barbara.”
Ben Peterson ’25 learned about careers in international relations while enjoying New York with students from around the world. “It was exciting and unforgettable to walk around the city and meet students with so many different perspectives, all eager to learn more about one another,” he says. Despite cold and rainy weather, the students visited the Sept. 11 memorial, Rockefeller Center and the U.N. They also navigated heightened security and motorcades due to a huge fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall with President Joe Biden and former Presidents Barak Obama and Bill Clinton.