For the third year in a row, American University’s Model UN (AUMUN) topped the Best Delegate North American College Model UN Final Rankings, released last week. AU is only the second school to three-peat.

“Our rise to one of the most successful teams in the nation is a testament to each team member’s dedication and love for both this activity and our program,” said head delegate Ellie White, SIS/BA ’25.

Model UN—which draws hundreds of thousands of students each year, from middle school to college—immerses participants in diplomacy and international relations by simulating the international governing body headquartered in New York City.

In college, weekend conferences follow two formats: general assembly, where participants are assigned a country or committee, and crisis committees, which require delegates to navigate fictional catastrophes like nuclear war.

Students hone their public speaking, critical thinking, and research skills, which enable them “to hit the ground running” after graduation, said SIS dean Shannon Hader. “Model UN is not just about great competition, achievement, and performance. The Model UN activities, training, and cultivation help students build professional skills at a level that is truly impressive. It sets them up to walk into their next adventures as leaders who will continue to grow and learn.”

AUMUN’s 55 members bested Harvard, Georgetown, Boston University, and the University of Chicago, which round this year’s top five. AUMUN attended nearly half of all available conferences, racking up more than 100 individual honors and five delegation awards.

AUMUN—part of the American University International Relations Society (AMIRS)—has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last 10 years. The team emerged from the top 50 in 2014–15 to land in the top 25 the following year. AUMUN reached the top five for the first time in 2018–19—and hasn’t budged in the six years since.

“Because of how successful the team has been in the last three to five years, I do think there are more students coming to AU with the intention of trying out for the AU Model UN team,” said SIS professor Jeff Bachman, director of AMIRS.

Thanks to its national reputation, AUMUN is one of the most competitive student groups to join. Each year, about 180 students try out for about 18 spots.

Students selected after two rounds of interviews are required to attend one conference each semester. Arjun Mishra, CAS/BS ’27, SIS/BA ’27, said the selection process, while daunting, is worth it.

“Really, the most grueling part of being on the team is trying out,” said Mishra, who also participated in Model UN during high school in Queens, New York. “That’s just the hard first step that leads to four years of fun, enjoyment, and travel.”

AUMUN has also helped Eagles build community at AU. Students hang out together outside of competitions and Wednesday night practices; they also boast two thriving Facebook Messenger groups, one for current students and another that includes alumni.

“We definitely are a close-knit community,” said White, who met her closest friends on campus through AUMUN. “And for me, it’s one of the most special organizations to be a part of on campus—and to know there is a whole community of people that have your back.”

In part, that community comes from traveling together—an essential but expensive aspect of Model UN. Additional funding will be critical to the team’s future success. The School of International Studies Dean’s Fund has provided significant financial support to AUMUN in recent years to help defray travel costs and decrease the barriers to participation. A number of SIS alumni—including Loren Danzis, SIS/BA ’93, and Nic Valbuena, SIS/BA ’23—have been inspired to personally contribute, as well.

“I hope that it’s relieved a little bit of the financial stress, so that members can focus on the substance of the competition,” Hader said. “They don’t need to think first, ‘What is this going to cost?’ Instead, they can think, ‘What can I contribute?’” 

Mishra said that financial support from SIS and donors has opened a world of opportunity.

“I’ve gotten to travel to places I’ve never been to,” he said. “I went to North Carolina last semester and Montreal this semester. It’s fun to meet people [from] other schools, not just in the US but also from Canada and international students too.”

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