Saint Michael’s Model UN heads to McGill University for annual conference, showcasing global leadership skills

A group of Saint Michael’s students joined more than 1,000 students from across the world to participate in debate and problem-solving around global issues. 

Saint Michael’s College students taking part in the on-campus club Model United Nations made the weekend-long trip to McGill University in Montreal, Canada on Jan. 30 to participate in the McGill Model United Nations Assembly (or McMUN). The annual McGill event helps foster leadership, collaboration, networking, and research skills. 

Through Saint Michael’s Model UN, students represent a country or specific area in mock scenarios that address diverse global conflicts, said Ashley Silveira ’26, the secretary of Saint Michael’s Model UN.  

Saint Michael’s College students participated in Model UN in Montreal in February 2025.

Professor Jeffrey Ayres, Director of the Institute for Global Engagement, is the faculty advisor for Model UN, and said that this is the third year that students travelled to Montreal to participate in the conference. This year, 13 students in Model UN attended the conference at McGill University. 

 “(Students) are learning more in depth about international issues, international crises, learning how to work with people from not just your own peers, but other peers from other schools who you’ve never met before,” Ayres said. “You suddenly just have to jump right in. So there’s a sense of kind of citizenship there, both global and domestic.” 

Silveira said the concept of role-playing international crises helps students develop global competency, which can be applied across many different career paths.  

Committees that the students experience at the McGill conference include specialized (30-50 people), general assemblies (up to 200 people), and crisis committees (10-30 people). In specialized committees, participants represent countries, while in crisis committees, they often represent real-life entities like the Brazilian Volleyball Federation, she said. 

Saint Michael’s College students were in Montreal for Model UN in February 2025.

At McGill University, students are role-playing in front of large audiences – mimicking the world stage that the real United Nations has as its own audience. Silveira said that this can be very intimidating and a surreal experience, but that students come well-prepared because of all the preparation that happens before the debate.  

“We do small committee sessions that go on for weeks and weeks, and it kind of teaches them those skills, but you really don’t hone in on those skills until you’re in the environment,” Silveira said. “And it can be a little scary when you’re coming in as a freshman, especially if you don’t have prior experience, but it’s such a great place to learn.”   

Model UN is an excellent way for students to get out of their comfort zone while also making lasting connections through networking with other universities, Ayres said. The club especially focuses on skills of diplomacy and networking.  

Silveira, who has attended the conference in past years, said that one of her favorite parts about being a part of Model UN is meeting new people and keeping in touch,  

“I have met so many incredible people across the globe from Model UN that I’m connected with on social media,” Silveira said. “I come back and I see them, like we spend time with each other every time we go back to McGill.”  

Students interested in joining Model UN at Saint Michael’s can contact Professor Jeffrey Ayres at jayres@smcvt.edu.