Nova Southeastern University’s Model United Nations Team delivered a model performance at the Eighth Annual Florida Model United Nations Conference in Gainesville, Oct. 11–12. Political science majors Vanessa Duboulay (freshman) and Rehan Sherali (junior) each earned Honorable Delegation awards for their portrayal of Nicaragua in the General Assembly and Economic and Social Council committees.
Eight undergraduate students represented NSU’s team, which is known as the Nova International Relations Association (NIRA) and sponsored by the NSU Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences. The team competed alongside students from Florida State University, the University of Florida, Flagler College, Broward College, and others from across the state.
“Our team did a fantastic job. They were professional, enthusiastic, and dedicated,” said G. Nelson Bass III, J.D., Ph.D., assistant professor at the college and faculty adviser for NIRA. “I am very proud of the work they do at these conferences; but, I am even more proud that NSU produces these types of students who are compassionate and caring individuals and great representatives of NSU and our community.”
In addition to Duboulay and Sherali (president), students representing NIRA included international studies majors Marco Baez and Mei Pou Ho (vice-president); political science major Nadim Visram; political science and history double-major Linea Cutter (secretary); and political science and legal studies double-majors Andrew Jones (treasurer) and Desiree Kennedy (head researcher). Several students also received a perfect score on their position papers for the conference. Political science and history-double major Kelsey Obringer (head researcher) served as editor for the team’s compositions. Obringer, a member of NSU’s championship Rowing team, was unable to attend the conference due to a regatta.
Join the NSU Model United Nations Team
NIRA membership is open to all NSU undergraduate students interested in understanding global issues and willing to help raise awareness of the role diplomacy can play in solving pressing global issues. Many participants are able to represent NSU at Model UN events across the state and country. For more information, contact faculty adviser G. Nelson Bass III, J.D., Ph.D., assistant professor at the NSU Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, at nbass@nova.edu or (954) 262-8099.