At the Conference
Scheduled Speakers at NY-B 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
Delegate Seminar 1:
TBD
Delegates, Head Delegates, Faculty, and Guests without a Mission Briefing at this time are encouraged to attend.
Monday, 14 April, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
3rd Floor Hilton Hotel - Trianon Ballroom
There will be time for Q&A.
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, 14 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.
All Faculty Interactive Workshop:
Best Practices in Teaching MUN Speeches Faculty Workshop
All Faculty are encouraged to attend.
Monday, 14 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 Chris Haynes from the University of New Haven and be moderated by Michiko Kuroda from Mercy University. Breakout facilitators will include Clarissa Estep from West Virginia University, Rebecca Flavin from Baylor University, Kevin Grisham from California State University San Bernardino, and Zack Karazsia from Valdosta State 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.
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.
Prof. Michiko Kuroda has been a core faculty member of the International Relations and Diplomacy Program in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, since 2013, in various capacities, currently as Lecturer. Her teaching is based on her 30 years of working at the United Nations. Prof. Kuroda brings her practical experiences to the courses she teaches: International Organization, Model UN, International Negotiation and Diplomacy, International Security Studies, and Managing Human Conflicts. She also assists with teaching International Law. Since 2014, Prof. Kuroda’s students have participated in Model United conferences, bringing outstanding awards to the Mercy team.
Prof. Kuroda’s UN experience included both at headquarters (Geneva and New York) and in the field (Timor-Leste). She served as chief of staff for UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions (United Nations Mission in East Timor, UNMISET; United Nations Office in Timor-Leste, UNOTIL; and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, UNMIT). As a certified mediator, Prof. Kuroda applied her conflict resolution and mediation skills to prevent further occurrences of conflict. Prof. Kuroda worked in several areas including human rights, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, evaluation and management analysis, capacity development, and negotiation. Prof. Kuroda continues to serve the UN as an executive coach and peacebuilding advisor. As a certified executive coach, she brings a change mindset to learning.
Prof. Kuroda’s research interest is in the practical implications of conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation. She has been an advocate for a) analyzing root causes of potential and developing conflicts mostly on an international scale; b) improving decision-making processes for UN peace operations, and c) building capacity. Based on her pioneering work on early warning, she now applies emotional intelligence theories to advance her work. Recently, she has been examining the accountability system for the protection of civilians so as to develop a more effective system for UN peace operations by bringing new perspectives.
Prof. Kuroda also serves as a Visiting Fellow on UN affairs at the Center of Global Engagement (CGE). She acts as Mercy University’s point of contact for the UN because Mercy University has NGO status with the UN Department of Public Information and is a member of the UN Academic Impact. She also organizes events for the CGE.
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, 15 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 Alynna Lyon from the University of New Hampshire 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.
Alynna J. Lyon is a Professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire. She is author of US Politics and the United Nations (Lynne Rienner, 2016), co-author of The United Nations in the 21 Century 6th ed. (Routledge, 2022) with Karen Mingst and Margaret Karns, co-author of The United Nations: 75 Years of Promoting Peace, Human Rights and Development with Kent Kille (2020), and co-editor of two books, Pope Francis as a Global Actor: Where Politics and Theology Meet (Palgrave, 2018) and Religion and Politics in a Global Society (Lexington, 2013). She is former chair of the International Organization section of the International Studies Association (2016-2018), Editor-in-Chief of Global Governance and a Faculty Fellow for the Global, Racial and Social Inequality Lab. She also serves as Faculty Advisor for UNH Model United Nations.