Model UN students resolved to take on global policymaking

In the past year, Ellie Krull ’24 has found herself stepping into the role of a Tunisian diplomat, a Moldavian leader and a Bahraini emissary.  

The international whirlwind has been thanks to Roanoke College’s Model UN and Model Arab League, a program that puts students in the shoes of world leaders grappling with big questions.   

“It’s been incredible,” said Krull, president of the campus club. “We’ve been able to meet other people from around the world, debate, learn policymaking and even meet with an actual United Nations diplomat.”   

The club also has been scooping up awards for its performance, a particularly remarkable achievement coming on the heels of the pandemic, when the program was brought to an abrupt halt.  

Since then, passionate students have thrown themselves into rebuilding the club, recruiting, fundraising and practicing to restore it to competition-ready condition.  

Model UN, along with the similar Model Arab League, brings together rising young leaders from around the world to step into the role of diplomats who must persuade, lead and build consensus to solve pressing problems. The experience challenges students to deep dive into global issues, hone compelling arguments and work together as a team to pursue the goals of the country assigned to them for each event.  

The experience appeals to students majoring in government, business, STEM and more as it blends global policy with the essential skills of research, public speaking and debate. It also has direct correlations for those on track to join international fields after graduation, such as Ryan Denholm ’21, who now teaches overseas in Andalusia, Spain.  

Denholm, who majored in international relations, was able to attend a 2019 Model UN conference in Erfurt, Germany, where he and another student were recognized with an honorable mention for their portrayal of the United Arab Emirates.  

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The opportunity to collaborate with such a diverse array of students in an immersive setting was a unique learning experience, he said.   

“I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in something like that as a Roanoke student. Here in Spain, I work a job that also requires cross-cultural communication and an understanding of how to adapt to international environments. Some days, I even find myself still thinking about that trip to Germany. It was something that pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to see the world in a different way,” Denholm said.  

It’s the type of valuable, hands-on experience that can’t be replicated in a classroom setting alone, he added. He encouraged current students to take a leap and explore all the opportunities that Roanoke offers them.  

“I hope more students participate in activities like Model UN in the future because though our campus is incredible, there is also a whole world beyond it,” he said. “My advice would be to allow the campus life to mold you and to enjoy it as much as possible, but it's also important to see what awaits in new places outside of where you’re already comfortable. You might be surprised by what you find. And it might take you in directions so different than what you thought before.”  

In the past year, Roanoke’s Model UN and Model Arab League team has tested its mettle at events in South Carolina, New York City, Germany and more.

Since roaring back post-pandemic, Roanoke’s Model UN and Model Arab League team has competed at conferences in New York City, South Carolina and Virginia. Students were recognized with the Distinguished Delegation Award at the Appalachia Regional Model Arab League conference and the Chair’s Superlative Award at the Southeast Regional Model Arab League conference.  

In New York, they were also invited to meet with Malta’s permanent representative to the UN and tour the UN Security Council Chamber.  

“Model UN is an experiential learning opportunity like no other,” said Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef, faculty advisor and chair of the Public Affairs Department. "The students run the club and gain leadership experience from that; they learn to think about urgent issues like global trade, climate change, human rights, technology and sustainability from perspectives other than their own; and they practice teamwork and negotiation skills.  

“Watching the students in conference is truly inspiring for me. They are energized, immersed, in character. They make speeches, argue their position, work toward compromise, co-author resolutions and connect with delegates from other institutions and other countries, all with enthusiasm and joy. This is an invaluable complement to the classroom learning our students receive on campus, and I am grateful to our alumni and friends who make this opportunity possible through their generosity." 

Last fall, the club made a return to Germany, attending a Model UN conference in Erfurt, a city steeped in history and architecture that dates back to the Medieval era.  

The delegation of four students not only got to take part in the competition, representing Albania, but also got to carve out time for cultural trips to museums and historical sites like Point Alpha, which offers a firsthand view of Cold War era conditions. For some, it was their first trip out of the United States. For all, it marked their first time visiting Germany.  

“It was really amazing to see. Obviously, you learn about the Cold War and Soviet Union in school, but to actually see the places and artifacts is something else,” said Krull, who was part of the delegation. “One of the most interesting things to me was a satellite photo of the border and how they divided up East and West Germany. You could see that on the western side, the farms were all small, family-type farms. But on the eastern side, they were all huge coop, collective farms.   

“It was fascinating to see that type of tangible example of how ideologies and governments can make even farming life so different across two sides of a border.”  

In the conference itself, students flexed the weeks of advance research they had done on Albania’s policies and history to shape resolutions on sustainable development and anti-corruption measures. The sessions were hosted in the Erfurt Town Hall and Thuringian Parliament Building, putting students in real halls of government. The conference was opened by Birgit Pommer, president of the State Parliament of Thuringia. 

The team is next headed to an April conference in New York City where they’ll represent the nation of Malta.  

Krull, a political science major, said being part of Model UN has sharpened her leadership and public speaking skills. It’s also made her more adept at finding sound data even while under pressure.  

“There are times when you have to come up with factual information in a short amount of time,” she said. “You might be in a committee, and someone asks if your country has a standing law on a topic. So, you have to search, pull up their constitution, look for reliable information so you can have an answer in a few minutes.”   

“It’s made me much more confident in my abilities,” she added. “And there’s something in it for everyone. The policies we discuss touch on science, the environment, economics. You can tailor the experience to your interests and what you want to learn.”