Secretariat
For the past 34
years the Secretariat of the Yale Model United Nations program have
worked to provide an environment of professionalism and support for all
of the participants of YMUN, providing opportunities for our delegates
to gain insights about the issues that global organizations struggle
over on a day to day basis.
Below are the profiles of the Secretariat for YMUN XXXV. Please feel
free to contact any of us at our email addresses for questions,
comments, or assistance.
Secretary-General
Amandla Ooko-Ombaka
amandla@yalemodelun.org
Karibu Sana YMUN XXXV, welcome to YMUN XXXV! After serving as USG for Specialized Committees at last year's conference, I cannot wait to welcome you all to Yale and share with you an exhilarating weekend of challenging debate and social interactions. As rising junior in Branford College, and a Kenyan born national who has lived in the USA and England and travelled extensively with Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America, I have constantly been trying to define what it means to be a global citizen, and more so, a global leader. Since 7th grade, MUN has been one of the activities that has shaped my ideas of global leadership, and my desires to major in International Studies (with Mathematics!). When I am not busy travelling with the Yale MUN team, I serve on the executive board for the Leadership Institute, work for the Yale Admissions office, and I dance, a lot! If you have any general questions, comments, or concerns about the conference, please do not hesitate to contact me
Director-General
Fernando Reyes
ferny@yalemodelun.org
Prodigious! Welcome aboard the YMUN train! I'm really thrilled to be the Director General for this conference. I'm a junior in Branford College, studying Religious Studies and Education Policy Last year, I served as USG Tech for YMUN XXXIV. I have been long looking forward to this conference. Between planning new technological advances for the conferences, attempting new methods of planning and just generally investigating Model UN to make this conference better, I feel like this has been one of the largest projects I've ever engaged with in my life. When not involved with Model UN, I serve as the Yale Political Union's Treasurer and the Party of the Left's Webmaster. I've worked with various community services programs around New Haven. I have also had the pleasure of seeing grassroots politics work as a webmaster for an Obama Get-Out-the Vote Effort. I'm an avid anime fan, PC and video gamer, and all-around computer junkie. I'm big on ideas and discussion what it means to have/hold and to pursue those ideas. YMUN for me serves an exciting purpose to see what the future of our world is, and hopefully, improve for the better.
Director-General
Andrew Dean
andrew@yalemodelun.org
Hi everyone (and excuse the somewhat impish picture). I'm a junior in Silliman College and am majoring in Political Science and International Studies. I became involved in Model UN as a YMUN delegate myself during my junior in high school, and have continued that involvement this past year as an USG of General Assemblies. When not romanticizing my homeland of Wisconsin to any and all who will listen, I participate in the Yale chapter of the ACLU and various community service projects around New Haven. I also relish the occasional game of Halo. As Director General, I'm handling a lot of the committees and helping make sure they operate at the best level possible. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
USG of Delegations
Natalie Kotkin
natalie@yalemodelun.org
I am a sophomore in Trumbull College from Wethersfield, Connecticut. At last year’s conference I served as an ASG Services, and for the four previous years I attended YMUN as a delegate. In addition to my involvement in the Yale International Relations Association, I work for a student-run microcredit organization, mentor students at a New Haven high school and do various other activities around campus. This summer, I will be taking a course in Paris and figuring out whether I want to be a French major. I look forward to seeing all of you in January 2009!
USG of Technology
Jharrett Bryant
jharrett@yalemodelun.org
Greetings and welcome to YMUN XXV! I am absolutely thrilled to be your USG of Technology. I’m a sophomore in Saybrook College and hope to double major in Biomedical Engineering and Psychology. My vibrant passion for Model UN began my freshman year of high school at the International School of the Americas, where I was exposed to everything from delegating to chairing at a number of truly amazing conferences—I’ve been obsessed with Model UN ever since! If I’m not fulfilling my YMUN duties, it means that I’m probably reading a Java textbook, at the gym training for the periodic 10K, doing a random problem set, or carrying out my Model Congress E-Board responsibilities. I also love research; summer of 2008 I conducted tissue engineering and nerve regeneration research in Chicago and am eager to begin similar investigations upon my return to Yale. I can’t wait to see all of you in January! In the meanwhile, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments.
USG of General Assemblies
Edgar Melgar
edgar@yalemodelun.org
Bienvenidos al trigésimo-quinto Modelo de Naciones Unidas de Yale! (Welcome to YMUN XXXV!) I am a junior in Berkeley College majoring in Literature and International Studies. I was originally born in California to Salvadoran parents, and have lived in El Salvador for the last fifteen years. This is my eight year doing Model UN. I am part of Yale’s MUN team, and last year had the pleasure of chairing DISEC. I am president of the Salvadoran Youth for Education Foundation, a group supporting community-based youth initiatives in El Salvador. My interests include Latin American literature and politics. You will recognize me at the conference as the only secretariat member wearing suspenders or a bow tie.
USG of Specialized Committees
Max Eden
max@yalemodelun.org
When Max was a little boy, his mommy always told him he was special.
At age 19, Max has proven her right. He is excited to be in charge of
Specialized Committees and hopes that his enthusiasm and passion for
MUN will make his committees this year extra special. Max grew up in
Cleveland, Ohio and is now a sophomore majoring in History at Yale. His
hobbies include soccer, literature, and having long lustrous hair.
Max's involvement outside the classroom include traveling on the
competitive Model UN team, editing the Yale Herald, coordinating an
elementary school tutoring program, peer counseling, and planning ways
that he can be even more special in the future.
USG of General Assemblies
Emma Larson
emma@yalemodelun.org
Hello, and welcome to YMUN XXXV! I come from the home of the
actual UN,
New York City, and I am a sophomore in Ezra Stiles college here at
Yale. I competed in a lot of Model UN in high school, and am really
excited to be on the staffing side of the conference for YMUN. When I'm
not in class or doing work for YMUN I write for the news section of the
Yale Herald, a weekly newspaper, and play a lot of intramural sports,
ranging from soccer to inner-tube waterpolo. I'm undecided as to my
major but am strongly considering English or History. ECOSOC 2009
promises to be a lot of fun - I can't wait to see you all on campus
next January!
USG of Conference
Lacey Gonzales
lacey@yalemodelun.org
Welcome to YMUN XXXV! It is an honor to serve as USG of
Conference.
Last year I served as ASG of Specialized Committees and had a great
experience. I am a sophomore in Timothy Dwight College and will
probably double major in political science and international studies.
Outside of my involvement with YIRA, I spend my time as a staff
reporter for the Yale Daily News. During this semester I have also
gained a new perspective on New Haven, CT through an internship in the
Office of Communications for the mayor. If you have any questions about
the logistical side of the Conference, don’t hesitate to
contact me. I
cannot wait to see you here in New Haven in January.
USG of Service
George Bogden
george@yalemodelun.org
My name is George Bogden and I am the Undersecretary General of Services for YMUN XXXV. I am a sophomore in Silliman College and I am studying international affairs and economics at Yale. I was lucky to serve as a staff-member for DISEC Committee of YMUN XXXIV. In addition to working on YMUN, I enjoy writing for The Yale Globalist and debating in the Yale Political Union. Get excited for YMUN XXXV! It will be awesome.
USG of Decorum
Sebastian Serra
sebastian@yalemodelun.org
Welcome to YMUN XXXV! I am a sophomore in Saybrook College from Mexico
City. I am a member of the Yale Varsity Soccer Team and member of the
traveling Model UN team. My participation in MUN has given me the
opportunity to debate and interact with students from all over the
world and research areas that are completely new to me. I hope that
your experience at YMUN XXXV will allow you to do the same. As Under
Secretary General of Decorum, I am in charge of ensuring that decorum
is maintained throughout the conference so as to ensure quality debate.
Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding advisor
responsibilities and proper decorum. I look forward to meeting you all!
Director of Security
Amy Zwanziger
amy@yalemodelun.org
Welcome to YMUN! I am so excited to be your Director of Security. I am a senior in Yale's beautiful Branford college and I am also a four-year member of Yale's competitive Model UN team. Last year, I served as Secretary General for YMUN XXXIV. When I am not busy with Model UN. I am also an avid skiier and spent the Summer of 2007 learning to be a professional ski instructor in New Zealand! I conduct health care research and am currently working in Chicago for McKinsey. I will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time at YMUN XXXV. I hope to see you in January!