UNC Charlotte students earn honors at Harvard World Model UN in Peru
Twelve students from the Advanced Model United Nations class in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration traveled to Lima, Peru, to compete at Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) from March 15-19, joining more than 650 delegates representing over 80 countries.
Over five days of intensive debate, students served on committees simulating United Nations agencies and tackled issues ranging from demographic ageism and green finance to AI governance, cybersecurity and the future of non-self‑governing territories. Delegates delivered speeches, drafted policy papers and negotiated resolutions aimed at addressing some of the world’s most complex challenges.
Two Charlotte students earned recognition for their committee work:
- Emma Wical received a Verbal Commendation
- Annabelle Hill was honored with a Diplomacy Award
The delegation also excelled in the Resolution Project Social Venture Challenge, an entrepreneurship competition embedded within WorldMUN that invites students to design innovative solutions to problems in their home communities. Competitors pitch detailed business plans to judges from corporate and nonprofit sectors, emphasizing social impact and long‑term sustainability.
Three Charlotte students advanced to the Resolution Project semi‑finals:
- Emma Wical, for “Insure and Insulin Alliance”
- Abdel Hamid Muhyeddin and Aji‑Fatou Sallah, for “Voter Bridge Charlotte”
Wical’s project was named one of three global winners, which marks the second consecutive year a Charlotte student has earned top honors in the challenge. In 2025, political science major Sofia Fuentes won for her project “Bridging Knowledge, Empowering Health” at WorldMUN in Manila, Philippines.
Wical’s victory grants her seed funding, mentorship and access to an international network of social entrepreneurs through the Resolution Project, supporting the launch and growth of her venture.
The Advanced Model UN class is a signature offering of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, pairing rigorous academic preparation with immersive global experiences. The program is led at Charlotte by Hania al-Shamat, assistant teaching professor, who coaches the students through their preparations for the global arena.
Each year, the course takes students to a different international city to participate in WorldMUN, combining the conference with cultural exploration and globally engaged assignments. The program is supported in partnership with Charlotte Global, ensuring students are prepared for meaningful cross‑cultural encounters.
“I’m immensely proud of how our students rose to the challenge and distinguished themselves among peers from around the world,” said al-Shamat.
Through this comprehensive experience, students build skills in public speaking, policy writing, negotiation and international diplomacy while engaging with peers from around the world.
“Our students continue to demonstrate that UNC Charlotte students help drive international conversations about diplomacy and innovation,” said Cheryl Brown, chair and associate professor of political science and public administration. “Their achievements in Lima show not only their talent, but the strength of our program’s commitment to preparing globally engaged leaders.”
