At the Conference

Scheduled Speakers at NY-A 2025

Each year we are privileged to host an array of speakers at our NMUN conferences.
We encourage all delegates, faculty, and guests to take advantage of these unique educational opportunities.
Additional speakers will be added to this page as they are confirmed.

Keynote Speakers

Mara Kronenfeld
Mara Kronenfeld
Executive Director, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees USA (UNRWA USA)
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As the Executive Director of UNRWA USA, Mara Kronenfeld leads the strategic vision, operations, and fundraising efforts of the nonprofit organization that supports the humanitarian and human development work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Middle East. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Mara is a Fulbright Scholar and an expert in designing, implementing, and leading public private partnerships supporting youth development programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Mara's core competencies include program design and development, organizational capacity strengthening, and multi-sectoral partnership cultivation and collaboration. She has a strong focus on youth workforce development, education, employability, and empowerment. She has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of youth programs in collaboration with partners such as the World Bank, USAID, OCP Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, JP Morgan, Saudi Aramco, the King Khalid Foundation, and hundreds of local NGOs and community-based organizations across the MENA region. Mara brings Arabic language skills and a deep knowledge of the MENA region to UNRWA USA.

She is passionate about advancing the rights and dignity of, and opportunities for, Palestine refugees and promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the MENA region.

Source: https://www.unrwausa.org/our-people
TBD
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Delegate Seminar 1:

The Rest of the Story – UNRWA's Work and Next Steps

Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.

Monday, 7 April, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
3rd Floor Hilton Hotel - Trianon Ballroom

Join our keynote speaker from the Opening Ceremony, Mara Kronenfeld, as she delves more deeply into the work of UNRWA USA. There will be time for Q&A.

Mara Kronenfeld
Mara Kronenfeld
Executive Director, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees USA (UNRWA USA)
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As the Executive Director of UNRWA USA, Mara Kronenfeld leads the strategic vision, operations, and fundraising efforts of the nonprofit organization that supports the humanitarian and human development work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Middle East. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Mara is a Fulbright Scholar and an expert in designing, implementing, and leading public private partnerships supporting youth development programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Mara's core competencies include program design and development, organizational capacity strengthening, and multi-sectoral partnership cultivation and collaboration. She has a strong focus on youth workforce development, education, employability, and empowerment. She has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of youth programs in collaboration with partners such as the World Bank, USAID, OCP Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, JP Morgan, Saudi Aramco, the King Khalid Foundation, and hundreds of local NGOs and community-based organizations across the MENA region. Mara brings Arabic language skills and a deep knowledge of the MENA region to UNRWA USA.

She is passionate about advancing the rights and dignity of, and opportunities for, Palestine refugees and promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the MENA region.

Source: https://www.unrwausa.org/our-people

Delegate Seminar 2:

Career Opportunities at the UN Secretariat
Discovering the YPP: Alumni Voices and Experiences

Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.

Monday, 7 April, 10:45 – 11:45 p.m.
3rd Floor Hilton Hotel - Trianon Ballroom

The United Nations Secretariat's Office of Human Resources warmly invites you to a special session featuring alumni from the Young Professionals Programme (YPP). This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from individuals who have successfully navigated their way into impactful roles within the UN.
Highlights of the Session:

  • Experiences Shared by YPP Alumni: Learn firsthand about the challenges and successes of securing a position at the UN from YPP alumni hailing from various regions around the globe.
  • Other Entry Points into the UN: Explore briefly the multiple pathways for joining the UN, including direct applications, the JPO Programme, and registration in the UN Global Talent Pool.
  • Live Q&A: Have your questions answered during a live Q&A segment, allowing for a deeper understanding and personal interaction with former YPP participants.

We're waiting to welcome you to this enriching session!
Our YPP alumni are eagerly looking forward to speaking with you, ready to share their invaluable experiences and insights. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and be inspired by their journeys.

Mahmoud Almasri
Mahmoud Almasri
United Nations Human Resources Office
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Mahmoud Almasri is an associate Human Resources Officer who contributes to promoting diversity and inclusion in the United Nations to reflect the multiple perspectives and characteristics of the people it serves. Mahmoud’s work aims to achieve greater geographical representation and improve gender parity throughout engaging in talent outreach activities. He has a Lebanese mother, Syrian father, and Egyptian grandparents. Until now, Mahmoud has had three turning points in his life. The first was in 2012 when he was forced to leave Syria and became a refugee in Lebanon. The second was in 2014 when he received the “Tomorrow’s Leaders” full scholarship at the American University of Beirut granted by U.S. Department of State. With that, he now has a bachelor's in Economics with double minors in Public Administration and Civil Society, Citizenship, and the Nonprofit Sector. Upon graduation, his scholarship program awarded him the “Excellence in Civic Engagement” award in recognition for his initiatives in education in rural areas in Lebanon. The third turning point in Mahmoud’s life was in 2022 when he joined the United Nations in New York through the Young Professional Programme, 2.5 years after he submitted the application. Mahmoud’s current vision is to contribute making the world less unequal mainly through education.

All Faculty Interactive Workshop:

Best Practices in Teaching MUN Speeches Faculty Workshop

All Faculty are encouraged to attend.

Monday, 7 April, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
2nd Floor, Hilton Hotel - Morgan

We invite newer and more experienced faculty to an interactive session where some of the peer authors of a forthcoming MUN textbook will facilitate a workshop on ways to teach students how to write and deliver MUN speeches. This will include a short author-led talk on pedagogical approaches and lesson plans, small group breakouts, and a chance for all faculty to share best practices. This workshop is the first in what NMUN hopes is a series of workshops that embraces the short course style used at conferences on the scholarship of teaching and learning. This workshop will include a presentation by Cal Crammer from Santiago Canyon College and be moderated by Chris Haynes from the University of New Haven. Breakout facilitators will include Eric Cox from Texas Christian University, Sarah Duryea from University Erfurt, Joe Scollo from the University of New Haven, and Tina Zappile from Stockton University. Come share your experiences and be a mentor and/or a mentee, gaining additional ideas, approaches, and materials to enhance student learning. The upcoming textbook is entitled Model United Nations: Building Essential Skills for MUN and Beyond (Cognella) and is due for release in August 2025.

Cale Crammer
Cale Crammer
Associate Professor, Political Science, Santiago Canyon College
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Professor Cale Crammer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Santiago Canyon College (SCC). With over two decades of expertise in the realm of Model United Nations (MUN), Professor Crammer currently serves as the director of the Model United Nations program at SCC. His dedication to nurturing future leaders extends beyond MUN as he also advises the Beta Eta Rho chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). In addition to his roles in MUN and PTK, Professor Crammer teaches courses in American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Politics. He is also currently working on a co-authored book on MUN.
Chris Haynes
Chris Haynes
Assistant Professor, Political Science, University of New Haven
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Dr. Chris Haynes is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of New Haven. Dr. Haynes is also director of the University’s Model UN program, Mayor’s Advisory Commission, and Washington Internship Institute program. Dr. Haynes is an expert on framing, public opinion, voting, and migration. He has a number of publications including his well-cited book, Framing Immigrants: News Coverage, Public Opinion, and Policy.

Karen J. Vogel Faculty Seminar:

An Insider's Guide to the UN

Faculty, Guests, and Head Delegates not assigned to a committee are encouraged to attend.

Tuesday, 8 April, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
2nd Floor, Hilton Hotel - Morgan

This presentation by journalist and author Linda Fasulo is back by popular demand. Join us as Tina Zappile from Stockton University interviews Linda and asks probing questions about pertinent issues before the UN. If you're interested in better understanding the complex world of the United Nations, especially given the current world situation, this seminar is for you! Come learn, from an insider, how the UN works and doesn't work, its strengths and weakness, who the key players are, and how things get done. Linda represents NPR News at the UN as an Independent Correspondent and is author of An Insider's Guide to the UN. There will be time for Q&A.

Linda Fasulo
Linda Fasulo
NPR - UN Bureau, Independent Correspondent and Author of "An Insider's Guide to the UN"
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Linda Fasulo is a journalist and author specializing in the UN and US foreign policy. Based at the United Nations, she is a long-time independent correspondent for NPR News. Linda has worked as UN Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC and as Special UN Correspondent for US News and World Report magazine. A frequent speaker on international issues, she has a Master’s in Public Administration and has also done graduate study in international affairs at Columbia University. Her popular book, An Insider's Guide to the UN, published by Yale University Press, is in its fourth edition. Besides English, various editions of the book have also been published in Chinese and Korean. Linda serves on the Executive Committee of the UN Correspondents Association (UNCA).
Tina Zappile
Tina Zappile
Associate Professor, Political Science, Stockton University
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Tina is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Stockton University in New Jersey where she teaches undergraduate courses in international relations, international political economy, global governance, quantitative research methods, and an interdisciplinary first-year course on global challenges. Tina holds an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and an M.A.in Economics and PhD in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is the founding advisor of Stockton’s Model UN program, campus liaison for the State Department’s Diplomacy Lab program, and co-facilitator for the Stockton Critical Thinking Institute (SCTI). Her research on international financial institutions and scholarship on teaching and learning has appeared in World Development, International Studies Perspectives, and Routledge’s RIPE Series in Global Political Economy. She is the lead author of " Global Challenges: Promise & Peril in the 21st Century", a digital textbook/course published in Smart Sparrow’s adaptive learning platform (blendedcourses.org). Tina is the recipient of Stockton’s 2016 Faculty of the Year Award.

Additional Information

  • Conference Materials
  • Conference Schedule
  • Speakers A
  • Speakers B