By Himaja Balusa, Global Education Manager
On Tuesday, April 29th the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area’s (UNA-NCA) flagship global education program, Global Classrooms DC, hosted its 21st annual Spring Model UN Conference in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs. Over 400 students, educators, and guests convened for a day of debate and diplomacy.
On Tuesday, April 29th the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area’s (UNA-NCA) flagship global education program, Global Classrooms DC, hosted its 21st annual Spring Model UN Conference in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs. Over 400 students, educators, and guests convened for a day of debate and diplomacy. The conference commenced with an Opening Ceremony with keynote remarks from Deputy Secretary of State, Christian Landau. The ceremony began with Paula Boland, UNA-NCA President, welcoming participants to the U.S. Department of State. She reflected on UNA-NCA’s mission to promote a strong U.S.-UN partnership and recognized the essential role young people play in shaping global solutions. Ms. Boland also expressed gratitude to program sponsors and partners for their continued collaboration. She then introduced a video message by Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, created specifically for the occasion. Secretary Rubio spoke about the importance of maintaining international peace and security, the administration’s strategy of America first foreign policy, emphasized the importance of reforming and renewal of global institutions like the United Nations. Following Secretary Rubio’s introductory message, Director of the UN Information Center in Washington DC, William Davis, took the stage with some critical reflections and reminders.
Mr. Davis reiterated Secretary Rubio’s message that the skills students foster at Model UN will serve them throughout their lives. Mr. Davis spoke about the importance of honing one's voice, speaking effectively in public, and collaborating. He even underscored the importance of compromise, as "sometimes winning everything is not as good as everyone winning something." He concluded by encouraging students to pursue a career in public service and introduced this year's Student Secretary-General, Ahaana Sabari Rajan. Ms. Rajan delivered an impassion address on the role of diplomacy in shaping a just and connected world. Drawing from her own experiences as a first-general immigrant, she spoke about the diversity of backgrounds that delegates bring to the conference and the shared commitment to global cooperation. She highlighted the power of Model UN to help students discover their potential and become agents of change, urging them to take action rather than wait for it — reminding delegates, in the words of Greta Thunberg, "Once we start to act, hope is everywhere."
Keynote Speaker: Deputy Secretary of State Christian LandauShe then introduced the Conference’s keynote speaker, Deputy Secretary of State Christian Landau, who began by sharing that he was a Model UN alumnus from the late 1970s. He spoke warmly about his own experiences, including how his daughter was participating in the conference that day, highlighting the real-life challenges of representing countries amid changing political landscapes. Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized the importance of recognizing that the United States is part of a much larger world, encouraging students to develop empathy by understanding other countries’ unique perspectives shaped by their history, culture, and interests. He stressed that Model UN offers a valuable opportunity to see the world through others’ eyes, fostering critical skills for diplomacy and international relations. He highlighted the difference between bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, explaining how the latter, which the students are practicing, involves navigating complex global issues with many countries involved.Concluding, Deputy Secretary Landau encouraged students to consider careers in the Foreign Service, expressing hope that their participation in Model UN could be the first step toward a meaningful career in public service. Following the opening ceremony, student delegates dispersed into their respective committees. The conference hosted seven committees, including the UN Security Council, Peacebuilding Commission, UN Children’s Fund, UN Environment Programme, UN Commission on Social Development, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Delegates debated key issues ranging from climate change to migration and peacebuilding.
Model UN Debate Additionally, special guests attended the Open House, where UNA-NCA recognized its main sponsors and partners, including the IO Bureau, the USA for IOM and UNHCR. Another key element of the day was the Educator Session, held after lunch for the teachers. During the session, Keegan Scott (Outreach & Recruitment Officer for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program at IIE) led an interactive MUN-style activity with 30 teachers from DMV schools, where they selected country placards and paired up based on geographic or linguistic prompts. Teachers discussed global education topics such as student interests, effective teaching tools, classroom challenges, and the role of AI, engaging enthusiastically in the lively exchange of ideas and experiences. Mr. Scott’s engagement was followed by feedback collection on the conference and GCDC program. 
Luciano Arroio at the Open House — Interim CEO, USA for IOMThe Closing Ceremony commenced with Global Education Manager Himaja Balusa expressing her gratitude to the U.S. Department of State and UNA-NCA teams for their dedication and hard work in making the event a success. She then introduced UNA-NCA Board Chair Anne Simmons-Benton who introduced Mr. McCoy Pitt, Sr. Bureau Official with the IO Bureau. Mr. Pitt began by proudly noting his own roots in Model UN, sharing that his early experiences as a delegate helped shape his diplomatic career. He thanked UNA-NCA for collaborating with the U.S. Department of State to bring the event to life and commended the student delegates for their energy, thoughtful debate, and commitment to problem-solving. Reflecting on his own professional journey—from high school MUN conferences to leading negotiations at the UN Security Council—Mr. Pitt emphasized the real-world value of the skills students practiced that day, including negotiation, leadership, and consensus-building. He closed by encouraging students to carry these lessons back to their communities and into the future, expressing confidence in their potential to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Following Mr. Pitt’s remarks, Committee Chairs were called up to present awards to delegates from each committee. Toward the end of the ceremony, UNA-NCA leaders Paula Boland and Anne Simmons-Benton thanked the participants and offered a thoughtful gesture of appreciation to Global Education Manager Himaja Balusa, presenting her with flowers in recognition of her work.
Closing Keynote – Spring 2025: McCoy Pitt, Senior Bureau Official
Spring 2025 Model UN Social Media Highlights (via IO Bureau)
