An 11-member student delegation recently represented the People’s Republic of China at the National Model United Nations (UN) Conference in Washington, D.C.

Held in early November, the conference drew hundreds of college and university students from around the world. They discussed issues at the forefront of international relations and participated in debates designed to mimic how the UN navigates international issues such as security, the environment and development.

The Syracuse University delegation, comprised of mostly Maxwell School students, was led by Lily Collins, a senior majoring in citizenship and civic engagement and political science; Alana Auchmoody, a junior majoring in international relations; and Chenglu Jiang, a junior majoring in international relations.

“The Syracuse delegation diligently prepared for the conference by studying China’s history and politics as well as the important role it plays in the United Nations system,” says Osamah Khalil, professor of history and chair of the International Relations Undergraduate Program. “Serving on the Model UN team provided the students with an excellent opportunity to understand Beijing’s perspective on a range of global issues.”

Most of the Syracuse delegation were first-time Model UN participants. They were joined by advisor Adrienne Kinne, a graduate student in the history department.

In addition to the delegation leaders, participants included:

• Sofia Abdullina, a junior majoring in international relations and magazine, news and digital journalism
• Huiwen Ding, a senior majoring in economics and international relations
• Meghan Harris, a sophomore majoring in political science
• Bretton Kohler, a sophomore majoring in chemistry and forensic science
• Yitian Li, a junior majoring in international relations and psychology
• Gustavo Madero Carriles, a sophomore majoring in political science and public relations
• Ellie Rachev, a sophomore majoring in international relations and psychology
• Kristen Wohrle, a sophomore majoring in international relations and forensic science 

Kohler was among the honorees, winning an Outstanding Position Paper award for the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Syracuse delegation will represent Japan at the Model UN conference in New York City this spring.

By Jessica Youngman