Joel Fitzgerald, a junior student in the School of Nursing has been selected to participate in the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference in Vancouver, Canada March 11-15, 2012.
Representing the country of Slovenia in the World Health Organization (WHO), Joel will have the opportunity to compete with universities from around the world while making speeches, preparing draft resolutions, negotiating with allies and adversaries, resolving conflicts, and navigating the conference rules of procedure – all in the interest of mobilizing international cooperation toward resolving problems that affect countries all over the world.
As a member of the World Health Organization, Joel will represent a medical professional from the country of Slovenia. He will be role-playing as an MD expert while discussing and debating the public health topics malnutrition and contraception. The WHO specializes in information collection and policy suggestion through consensus of medical professionals, publishes reports for widespread dispersal of important information, and compiles data and evidence that is sent to the United Nations General Assembly.
The selection process for participation in the conference was very rigorous and Joel is the only student from the College of Health and Humans Services chosen to participate in the conference as the best that UNCC has to offer in Model UN delegates. Joel has spent a great deal of time preparing for his work at the conference; learning critical delegate skills, and preparing portfolios of information for use at the events. Much of the work for the conference was completed during fall semester for which he earned credit in the university’s United Nation’s practicum (POLS 4163).
Much of the student travel costs associated with the conference are funded through the Chancellor’s office. Dr. Cindy Combs, Department of Political Science, has served as Joel’s advisor for the practicum.
Please wish Joel his best as he represents UNC Charlotte in Vancouver next month.