Best Chairs and Crisis Directors
Anya Narang
McGill University
Aryan Kumar
University of Chicago 
Aryan Kumar is one of the most genuine delegates on the circuit, and his passion for Model UN certainly shines through, whether it was as a competing delegate or chair of the UNSC for CHOMUN 2022. From a fantastic understanding of parliamentary procedure, to ensuring the committee had more than enough breaks to stretch their legs, Aryan is an attentive listener and an extremely encouraging chair who only wants the best for delegates in his committees. Perhaps it is his ability to speak 6 different languages, or his commitment to exploring as many MUN organizations at UChicago as possible, whatever it may be, Aryan creates a space in which delegates of all backgrounds, identities and communities could feel comfortable and supported. Aryan is a rising senior and will certainly be staffing more committees as Chair or CD in the future. His involvement has certainly resonated with many thus far, and it will be exciting to see what he does next year!
Atharva Kulkarni
University of California, Los Angeles
Atharva Kulkarni, a rising senior at UCLA studying physics, is an inspiring, eccentric, and effervescent leader. Atharva infamously spearheaded the first-ever time loop committee at LAMUN XVII’s Ad Hoc as crisis director, to much acclaim from delegates and staffers alike. Delegates, representing anthropomorphized Amazonian animals, were tasked with invading a neighboring city, but each session ended with the delegate-driven doom of the committee. With so many things that could go awry, Atharva successfully managed to fuse delegate arcs with a gripping storyline and time loop mechanic. However, the success of this Ad Hoc committee—as Atharva acutely underscores—is primarily attributed to the zealous commitment of his staffers. Atharva’s philosophy on staffer training is simple: teach them the underlying, complex ideas first and finetune details thereafter. For instance, this includes teaching staffers how to anticipate a delegate’s arc and when to throw them a curveball. Subsequently, finer details on formatting notes and knowledge of the background guide are simultaneously assimilated. This method of teaching instills initiative, confidence, and passion in his staffers; in fact, Atharva claims that by the time LAMUN came around, any of his staffers could take his job. This upcoming year, Atharva will assume the Director of Training role for UCLA’s MUN club.
Bella Newell
Boston University
Born in D.C., raised in Georgia, and from Ottawa, Bella Newell is the outgoing head delegate for the Boston University Model U.N. team. Besides running countless simulations for the Boston University team, Bella Crisis Directed the Ad Hoc committee at BarMUN XIV. The topic, the Kennedy Family, was one she had been dreaming of for almost a year. Continuing BarMUN’s tradition of hosting Massachusetts-themed Ad Hocs, Bella ran it as one of the most competitive committees on the circuit, holding each delegate to high standards. She is already preparing BarMUN XV’s inaugural National Security Council which she is designing with her chair/roommate to be a thrilling committee. While the Model U.N. team is sad to see her leave her position as Head Delegate, everyone is excited for her to continue her career as the president of the BU International Affairs Association, our umbrella organization which encompasses the Model U.N. team, BarMUN, BosMUN, the International Relations Review, and the Students for the U.N. We know that she is going to do great things next year, and we are eagerly awaiting to see how the NSC council goes!
Burke Croft
University of Chicago
If you know anything about Burke, it’s that he is from Alaska and that he has a heart of gold. Burke is a rising senior on UChicago’s travel Model UN Team. Aside from being an incredibly supportive head del and mentor this year, Burke was also the Chair for ChoMUN’s Ad Hoc this year, something that he pulled off with amazing finesse. His ability to go with the flow and work unexpected mechanics into the frontroom as well as his dedication to making everyone feel heard was what made the ChoMUN Ad Hoc experience truly special this year. Between reminding us all that he hails from the best non-contiguous state in the US and religiously wearing socks and sandals (even through Chicago blizzards), Burke has contributed an amazing amount of love, support, good vibes, and musical bangers to our MUNiverse and we are extremely excited to see where the trail takes him.
Debbie Adewale
University of Chicago
Debbie Adewale is a Chair like no other—if you were a delegate in her committee “You Miss All the Shots You Don’t Take: International Bioethics Committee, 2022” at ChoMUN XXV, then you were fortunate enough to participate in one of the smoothest General Assembly committees (an oxymoron, I know) that the circuit has ever seen. Not only was she highly knowledgable about the topic due to her double majors in Biology and Public Policy, but Debbie’s graceful, compassionate, and empathetic approach is what distinguishes her approach to staffing. Whether staying nearly 30 minutes after committee to provide comprehensive feedback that delegates can take well beyond her specific committee, or accommodating numerous working papers to hear the brilliant ideas of her delegates, Debbie is someone who recognizes that the educational and social benefits of MUN extend well beyond awards. However, we would be remiss to not recognize that her gavels at NCSC and LAMUN—and the fact that she is a fierce double-delegate competitor anywhere on the circuit—enable her to translate her illustrious competitive career into an enjoyable committee experience for all. It is truly unfortunate that more people will not be able to experience having Debbie as their chair as she moves on to working at McKinsey & Company after graduation. She will undoubtedly turn the collaboration, compromise, and craft she exhibited during her time competing in General Assembly into some of the best performances the business world has yet to see.
Finn Thompson
Georgetown University
The circuit is so lucky to have been blessed by Finn Thompson! He is known for his play as a delegate — from creative but cunning arcs to wholesome in-room energy. And he’s always got awards to show for it, landing gavels at UPMUNC and BarMUN this year, amidst plenty other awards. Finn’s MUN expertise doesn’t stop when he’s competing — his genius translates to CDing as well, and I am sure his Earth Liberation Front NCSC adhoc and its immaculately curated vibes will go down in history as a legendary committee. If you saw people wearing flower crowns around NCSC and thought you were in Midsommar, you have Finn to thank. Above all, Finn is just a wonderful, welcoming, and hilarious person. It was a pleasure and an honor to have been on all sides of a committee with Finn and I am so lucky to have called him my best circuit friend for the past three years. MUN can be a cutthroat world, but it’s people like Finn that make you eager for the next conference. We will all be sad to see him go and can’t I can’t wait to see what he does at MIT (!!) and beyond. Love you Finn!
Kelsey Gilchrist
University of Chicago
Kelsey Gilchrist brings a fire to every crisis committee they’re a part of –– especially when Crisis Directing. Anyone in her committee at ChoMUN XXV, Alphabet Mafia Go Brr: The Mattachine Society 1950, has seen Kelsey’s crisis brilliance first-hand. Not only did Kelsey (and her fantastic Chair, Emma Janssen) fashion a groundbreaking committee that addressed and explored the history of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, but she did so while carefully making the committee a safe space for delegates of all identities. By running what has come to be known as both the kindest and gayest committee on the circuit, Kelsey brought discussions of queer rights to the forefront of the circuit. Kelsey’s passion, both for the topic and crisis as a whole, was palpable during conference weekend as they crafted the most unique of crisis updates with the most fun acting possible. This is all ignoring Kelsey’s unique competitive fire on the circuit as well as her dedication to teaching, as she worked to build the strength of UChicago MUN, fearlessly training younger delegates and crisis analysts on the ins and outs of how crisis operates. The collegiate Model UN circuit will be missing a big piece of its firepower as Kelsey graduates and heads off to the University of Michigan to study Physics at the graduate level. Thank you for all you’ve done for the circuit, Kelsey!
Mahek Ahmad
Georgetown University
Mahek Ahmad is a graduating senior at Georgetown University, and served as Conferences Coordinator for the 2021-2022 school year. As a delegate, Mahek is known across the circuit for her strong personality and unique ideas, and these qualities stick out when she is on the other side of the dais as well. As the chair for NCSC’s Ad-Hoc this year Mahek balanced pushing delegates to engage in substantive debate while ensuring that every delegate, regardless of where they were in their Model UN career, felt comfortable and confident in the committee. Mahek was fantastic at taking a committee full of talented delegates and encouraging us to think beyond traditional solutions that show up in directives and be creative in changing the world that she and her fellow dais members had created. Mahek utilized her own originality in choosing the Earth Liberation Front, a group of eco-terrorists active in the 1990s, to be the topic of the committee. The ELF pushed the boundaries of traditional Ad-Hocs that can default to being cabinets or boards, and allowed delegates to push the boundaries of Model UN. Mahek is the exemplification of what competence, kindness, and compassion at the dais and the circuit is truly losing one of its biggest assets next year.
Neha Jacob
University of California, Berkeley
Neha is one of those people who is naturally gifted at chairing. Whether it’s coordinating a double timed crisis or knowing all the rules of parli pro, she’s your girl. At UCBMUN XXVI, Neha chaired the Bandung: Decolonization and Globalization spec bod. Throughout the conference, she made the lives of all of Secretariat easier by receiving glowing feedback with minimal corrections on everything she was doing. Outside of her role as a chair, Neha served as the club’s Director of Finance this past year, doing a phenomenal job and always being responsive, particularly to the needs of the UCBMUN conference. Without Neha’s help, UCBMUN XXVI would not have been possible. On a more personal note, Neha is truly one of the kindest, brightest, and most compassionate people you will meet on the circuit. Everyone at Berkeley is truly thankful for her and we hope everyone on the circuit gets the chance to compete against her or compete in the committee she chairs at next UCBMUN!
Nicholas Bamberg
Florida State University
So much can be said about Nicholas R. Bamberg. Man, myth, legend, banqueteer… he is a wearer of many hats, and owner of many leather jackets. You probably recognize him from his appearance on the cover of GQ magazine. After an abridged three years at Florida State, he leaves behind a legacy of broken barriers and broken hearts, with eight awards at more than a dozen conferences to show for it. Nick’s proudest moments in FSU’s World Affairs Program were when he was able to share fragments of his immense wisdom with others: mentoring two excellent delegates and leading a semester-long internship application workshop for fellow team members. Graduating with a degree cum laude in International Affairs, Nick is excited to begin his professional career in nonprofit development at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
Nivea Krishnan
University of Southern California
Rory Fedorochko
College of William & Mary
Whenever anyone thinks of passion and creativity in Model UN, Rory comes to mind. Rory Fedorochko is a senior at the College of William and Mary who has been a dedicated member of the William & Mary International Relations Club. He continually travels on the competitive team and directs committees for &MUN, WMHSMUN, and WMIDMUN. Recently he directed a committee of his own creation, the Planet of Apes at &MUN X, William & Mary’s collegiate Model United Nations conference. This committee was not based at all around the movies. As it quite literally was a new world which featured apes as the ruling species. With an origin story, geopolitical conflicts, and a sustainable apechain, this committee was truly a new experience for delegates and produced the most fun at &MUN. His passion for trying to incorporate radical delegate arcs and propose new, innovative crisis updates truly outlined why he stood out as the best crisis director this year.
Sydney Steger
Boston University
Sydney Steger takes a heavy handed approach to running a committee (and using a gavel), all while being the most fun person in the room. A seasoned Chair (she most recently led BarMUN XIV’s Ad Hoc, the Kennedy Family Reunion: 1963-1969) Sydney is a master of parliamentary procedure who not only moderates debate, but effectively shapes it. Most importantly, Sydney is able to maintain strong control over extremely competitive environments, while simultaneously prioritizing the well being of delegates in the room. Just as strong of a delegate herself as she is a chair, her understanding of social dynamics and ability to give thoughtful, constructive, and kind feedback is at the core of her approach. As is her true excitement for debate, and love for the topics and committees she runs. This October, Sydney will be once again teaming up with her roommate Bella to develop BarMUN’s first ever National Security Council, which will be one final (iconic) hurrah for Commander-in-Chief Slayger (she will be representing Joe Biden). She will also be taking on the mantle of co-Head Delegate of the MUN@BU team, and we couldn’t be more excited to watch her shine. Outside of MUN (and sometimes inside!) Sydney loves singing karaoke, talking about being from Belgium, practicing calligraphy, and yassing/slaying. Sydney, we love you, and are so grateful for all you bring to our team and our conference.
Outstanding Chairs and Crisis Directors
Angel Mata
Harvard College
Angel Mata has been a presence on the Model UN circuit since he first started college in the fall of 2018, bringing positive energy, creativity, and his little dose of cheekiness to committees and characters alike. Most of all what made him a great delegate and staffer was the joy he brought to every part of the MUN activity, whether it was devising out-of-the-box crisis arcs, pulling from age-old quotes to craft dramatic speeches, or building an entirely new world from which to explore. The latter is exactly what Angel did as a Director for the HNMUN ADHOC this past year, using his own fascination with fictional futuristic societies, deep moral questions, and the sociology of artificial intelligence to build such a world. Above all, Angel brought a passion to the project by trying to create the most dynamic and immerse experience for his delegates as possible, trying to imprint on them both the seriousness of the questions being discussed and simultaneously the same joie de vivre that defined his own Model UN career. In that, it can be said, he most certainly succeeded.
Anthony Jorge
University of California, Berkeley
When Anthony first brought the idea of a Zodiac Killer-themed Ad Hoc to the Secretary General and Director General, it was instantly accepted with excitement. Over the course of the 10 months Anthony spent planning the committee, he showed an impeccable passion for the topic. This passion shone through in the background guide he worked tirelessly on, all the trainings he hosted with his ACDs, and the crazy updates he planned ranging from escape rooms to hostage scenarios. Anthony is a CD who truly knows how to give and receive feedback, constantly adjusting in order to give delegates the best experience possible. Anthony is a staple of UCBMUN going from being a head delegate for 3 semesters to now serving as a member of the DEI c
Arpit Bhate
Harvard College
Carson Eschen
University of California, Santa Barbara
Carson Eschen was a force to be reckoned with on the collegiate MUN circuit for 3.33 years, and his college MUN career ended on a high note after he served as a Crisis Director of the Lord of the Rings crisis committee at SBIMUN XII. Carson’s extensive knowledge of battle strategy and Middle Earth’s lore made this committee an immersive and challenging experience for delegates. His impressive crisis committee expertise made him the ideal CD to lead the LotR staffers, most of whom had never staffed before. Carson graduated from UCSB in Fall 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Philosophy. His next step is law school, and we look forward to seeing where he goes from here.
Christopher Boose
Georgetown University
While Christopher Boose is an incredibly smart and creative staffer, what sets him apart is the immense passion he has for his unique vision of how Model UN committees operate and the massive amount of hard work he is willing to put in order to execute that vision to its maximum potential. I had the honor of having Boose as the Grand Crisis Manager for the Chinese Civil War JCC in my organ at NCSC XLIX, and he consistently astonished me with the level of detail he put into the unique style with which he imbibed the war games committee experience. He was always willing to go the extra mile to make sure his brand of war games worked as efficiently as possible with meticulous attention to the details laid out in the maps he designed for the committee and instructions for how delegates could utilize the resources at their disposal. I was also pleased by Boose’s dedication to making sure the unique committee experience he sought to cultivate was accessible to everyone, doing his best to make sure delegates could feel immersed in the war games he helped design, and making detailed crisis updates that communicated information clearly while also giving everyone a laugh as they stood in the hallway waiting to see what clever hijinks the backroom had come up with this time. If I had to associate Boose with one word, it would be vision, for he always has a clear vision when it comes to Model UN and will bring heaven and earth together to make that vision the best it can possibly be for delegates and staffers alike.
Elliot Lin
University of Chicago
Georgia Steigerwald
Harvard University
Throughout her Model UN career, and especially in her time on the dais, Georgia has been committed to making the committee experience as exciting, interesting, and fun as possible. For anyone who has been in her committees, her crazy crisis acting and willingness to take on unusual arcs has undoubtedly left a lasting impression. What’s more impressive, however, is that she was able to maintain this committee experience while taking on twice the expected workload of a Crisis Director. At HNMUN 2022, she (due to a last minute staffing problem) took on the gargantuan task of simultaneously Crisis Directing two committees- the Antipope of Avignon and USSR State Council. Managing two entirely separate topics and rosters of delegates, overseeing two different teams of Assistant Directors, and coordinating both crises well was a daunting challenge, usually beyond any one person. Undeterred, Georgia brought an energy that lifted the spirits of all those around her, motivated her crisis team to commit themselves fully to the immersion, and allowed her to preserve and bring the best possible experience to all delegates involved. Instead of getting tied up in the affairs of any one committee, she empowered her crisis staff to execute their own visions. And as a result, she not only kept both committees from collapsing or stagnating, but went much further by bringing new ideas, skits, props, and drama to enrich each person’s experience so much more than expected.
Jordan Tulak
University of California, Santa Barbara
Introducing the one CD to rule them all…Jordan Tulak. Jordan is a rising senior at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying Political Science and History. When he is not using his abundance of creativity to play music, lead D&D campaigns, or write poetry, he is applying it to MUN. You may remember them from SBIMUN 2021 as one of the Crisis Directors for the infamous Lord of the Rings committee. Whether it is through calculated crisis arcs, crazy costumes, or comical celeborn impersonations, Jordan is always able to capture the room and get a laugh or two! Puns and alliteration aside, Jordan contributes so much to UCSBMUN and our team is beyond lucky to have him. One does not simply know Jordan…to know him is to befriend him and to befriend him is to love him.
Paulina Keim
University of Virginia
Paulina “Polly” Keim brings a light to the committees of the circuit, both as a feared delegate and an adored staffer. Her time Chairing VICS’ Director General’s Good Offices, one of the conference’s two famed Ad-Hocs, is no exception. Alongside Crisis Director Kira Bannister, Polly brought the Seoul Metropolitan Police 2050 to life. Outside of the unique committee twists and perfect parli-pro, Polly’s kind and laid-back demeanor worked wonders for establishing an inviting in-room experience. Her dedication and humor brought life to committee as she consistently prioritized the delegate experience in everything she did. As she wraps up her final of four years on the circuit, Polly’s pink power suits, unique crisis arcs, and unmatched kindness will be sorely missed. The circuit will truly miss Polly as a fantastic leader, delegate, staffer, and most of all, as a friend. Good luck in your future endeavors Polly, thank you for everything you’ve done for the circuit and UVA!
Selena Cai
McGill University
Selena has been absolutely incredible to work with in Model UN this year, acting both as a dedicated staffer to SSUNS and McMUN as well as the Director of Crisis for McGill’s Traveling Team. Selena is entering her third year pursuing a Joint Honors in History and Political Science with a Minor in Statistics. Though she has only been doing Model UN for two years, she has made her presence absolutely indispensable to everything she does related to Model UN. Every person who has worked with Selena has remarked on her creativity, ingenuity, and ambition, which was seen most clearly in her role as a Chair at McMUN 2022. She spearheaded the Nirai Kanai (Heaven) is a Place on Earth: Ryukyu Islands, 1589 crisis committee, where she facilitated incredible debate and created an enthusiastic, passionate weekend for delegates. When it came time for chair feedback, the delegates quite literally could not think of anything to say, other than how much they loved her. She is kind, caring, and always willing to lend a helping hand wherever it is needed. Model UN at McGill would simply not be the same were it not for her hard work, determination, and commitment. Whether it be through crafting meticulous background guides or through her extensive knowledge of Parliamentary Procedure, Selena has left a lasting mark on the delegates that are lucky enough to be a part of her committee. We cannot wait to see what Selena does when SSUNS and McMUN are in-person next year, as she is sure to be just as friendly and bubbly (sometimes quite literally) in-person as over Zoom. We love you Selena, congratulations!!!
Stephen Saw
University of California, Berkeley
As the chair for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms committee, Stephen brought extensive background knowledge, passion for MUN, and fun to the committee room. As a first-time chair, Stephen jumped right into writing his first background guide, poring over it for months to perfect it. Despite it being his first UCBMUN chairing, Stephen displayed a calm, competent demeanor that seasoned chairs often strive to accomplish. He also didn’t hesitate to bring elements of fun to the committee such as randomly deciding to switch places with another UCBMUN staffer who supposedly looked a lot like him. While we are thankful for everything Stephen did at conference, we would be remiss if we didn’t also celebrate him for being an amazing head delegate. We are excited for years to come with Stephen leading the club.
Sydney Gamble
University of Southern California
Those who had the privilege of participating in “The Ghost Club” specialized committee at TrojanMUN 2021 also had the privilege of being a part of a committee led by one of the best chairs, Sydney Gamble, that the circuit has ever seen. From the second everyone stepped in the room it was clear that this committee would be like none other: to match the topic matter, Sydney took the time to adorn the room with candles and shut off the lights to create an eerie ambiance. However, she also made this spooky committee be as non-frightening as possible: recognizing that this was, for many, the first MUN conferences of their year (or, in some cases, in their collegiate careers), Sydney took ample time explaining procedure and making sure that everyone’s questions, comments, and concerns were heard and considered. She kept the committee fun and dynamic, always ensuring that the mods, unmods, and voting blocs we had came at a steady but not overwhelming pace. Most notably, the feedback that she gave to everyone in the committee was specific, applicable to the general skills of MUN and not just this committee, and very non-focused on awards. She created such a collaborative and non-competitive atmosphere in this committee that everyone truly was there to act diplomatically, not competitively. I, like many others who participated in this committee, am so grateful of the poise and leadership that Sydney exhibited in The Ghost Club.
