Model UN Is Off and Running

10/28/2026

It’s going to be a banner year for Model UN.

“The MUN team is the biggest it's ever been,” said Brittany Farrar, co-faculty advisor. “Our upcoming Masters Model UN conference (MASMUNC) is the biggest it's ever been — in all divisions. We're really lucky to be increasing our scope and reach, and diversifying the types of schools that attend the conference here at Masters.”

Ben Thorn, co-faculty advisor, said that “with 50 students participating, our upper school MUN program has an exciting conference season ahead.” The group has been practicing debate and diplomacy skills in recent weeks.

Next month’s lineup includes the RoarMUNC conference at the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy in the Bronx and the Brown University Simulation of the United Nations (BUSUN) conference. Looking further ahead, the group is planning to attend conferences at Columbia in January and Georgetown in February.

Right now they are focused on their home turf. “We're especially thrilled about our own conference, MASMUNC V, which will take place on Saturday, December 5,” Thorn shared. “This will be our fifth conference and our largest yet, with more than 300 middle and upper school students expected to attend.”

Secretary-General Noah Adler ’27, Secretary-General Talia Hird ’27 and Director-General Maria Viniegra ’28 have been busy finalizing plans for MASMUNC, and will be sending 15 upper school students to BUSUN on November 13.

“The delegates attending Brown have been provided with background guides and will continue researching at the next MUN meeting,” Hird said. “Some of the committees for that conference include the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 2026; World Health Organization (WHO); United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and Joint Crisis Committee: Warlords.

Meanwhile, Hird and Knox Gary ’28 have been working with the Middle School MUN team each week to get them prepared for MASMUNC, with committees covering topics as varied as the Boston Tea Party to the Avengers.

Gary said, “We have mostly been teaching them how to take notes on specific issues that affect the countries they represent and also how to form blocs (solution-based groups) based on specific issues we present to them, such as droughts, famine and economic troubles.”

Farrar said of the 30 middle school delegates: “Right now, we're focusing on fundamentals with a strong new class of sixth graders and working on strategy and polish with our enthusiastic returners.”

Seventh grader Lexie Wessan joined MUN last year, inspired by a classmate and her parents who both work at the UN. She is looking forward to the year ahead.

“It’s very stimulating for your brain,” Wessan said. “I like math a lot, so I enjoy getting to combine writing, reading and problem-solving with all the spontaneous things that come up, especially if I’m in a crisis committee.”

This passion is what brings Gary, as a middle school mentor, the most joy. “I enjoy teaching them the basics of how to do specific research because they can often apply the skills later in life. I also enjoy seeing my love of Model UN carried onto the next generation of Masters’ Model UN students.”