Syracuse Sun

A group of 12 students from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University recently participated in the International Model NATO in Washington, D.C. The delegation, led by Michael Williams, associate professor and director of the master of arts in international relations program, represented Türkiye and Romania.

The event was hosted at Howard University and included pre-conference study sessions and embassy briefings. Students engaged in a three-day simulation replicating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's proceedings. Williams remarked on the value of this experience: “Model NATO provides a unique opportunity for students to develop and refine a professional skillset,” he said. “It’s no easy task to work under pressure to advance a common NATO agenda against the disparate national interests of each state."

Howard University has organized Model NATO for 40 years with Converse University, Northeastern University, and NATO member embassies. This year saw participation from 23 universities, including institutions from Sweden, Belgium, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

This marks the third participation for Maxwell School, supported by its public administration department and Moynihan Institute’s Center for European Studies. Lt. Col. Ben Scheller also advised students on military matters due to his previous command experience with a NATO battalion.

Participants included Joseph Reed, Caleb Mimms, Jake DeCarli, Meghan Whipple, Ethan Engelhart (master’s degrees in international relations), Casimir Wypyski, Austen Canal, Armita Hooman, Ela Rozas, Angelica Molina (master’s degrees in public administration and international relations), Leah Harding and Isabella Biorac Haaja (master’s degrees in public diplomacy).

Armita Hooman received recognition with the “Superior Delegation in Committee” award for her contributions to the Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee.

Leah Harding highlighted her interaction with a diplomat at the Turkish embassy as significant: “International Model NATO is all about role-playing,” she explained. She emphasized understanding country operations while engaging with real-time scenarios.

Story by Mikayla Melo