Student delegation represents Ireland at National Model United Nations 2026 conference

McDaniel’s delegation of nine students represented Ireland in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) 2026 conference held April 6-10 in New York City. Two of the McDaniel students also received the "Outstanding Position Paper" award.

Model UN 2026 — Nine McDaniel students, accompanied by Aqil Shah, visiting professor of Political Science and International Studies, participated n the National Model United Nations (NMUN) 2026 conference in New York City.

Nine McDaniel College students traveled to New York City to participate in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) 2026 conference, held April 6–10.

Accompanied by Aqil Shah, visiting professor of Political Science and International Studies, McDaniel’s delegation represented Ireland across seven UN committees, addressing a range of international policy issues.

As the world’s largest and oldest longest-running university-level Model UN conference, NMUN annually draws thousands of students from more than 100 UN member states to address current global issues.

“The National Model UN provides students with a unique hands-on opportunity of experiential learning that connects theory to practice in international affairs,” Shah said. “Participation in this simulated diplomacy not only helps build critical skills, such as public speaking, policy writing, and negotiating skills, but fosters cross-cultural interaction and networking with peers from around the world.”

Both Liam Estell, a senior Political Science and Computer Science major from Ellicott City, Maryland, and Wera Schroeder, a junior Mathematics and Biology major from Middletown, Maryland, participated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and received the "Outstanding Position Paper" award.

Other McDaniel students who participated included:

Sana Askari, senior Political Science and Business Administration and Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies major from Ghazni, Afghanistan
Ethan Clark, junior Political Science major from Mountain View, California
Chris Cull, junior Political Science and History major from Westminster, Maryland
Grayson DeSalvo, senior Political Science major from Potomac, Maryland
Justin Haber, senior Political Science major from Linthicum, Maryland
Patrick Nash-Mercado, junior Environmental Studies major from Manchester, Maryland
Leah Somerville, senior Political Science major from Clinton, Maryland

“I am proud of the McDaniel team. They put in long hours and serious work as model diplomats... Seeing the commitment of our students, alongside others from across the United States and around the world, offered a rare glimmer of hope,” Shah said.

In addition to the Model UN, McDaniel students are involved with the Model European Union, Model Arab League, and the Maryland Student Legislature.

McDaniel also offers the National Security Fellows Program, which pairs with any program of study to provide McDaniel students with robust knowledge, skills, and experience in national security as well as the ability to specialize in an area of interest, such as interstate conflict, intra-state political violence, cybersecurity, ethics, and human rights.

I am proud of the McDaniel team. They put in long hours and serious work as model diplomats... Seeing the commitment of our students, alongside others from across the United States and around the world, offered a rare glimmer of hope.

Aqil Shah, visiting professor of Political Science and International Studies

May 11, 2026