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By Kyle Hobstetter on March 20, 2022

In 2002, Carver Center for the Arts teacher Hugh Kearney came to Towson University鈥檚 Political Science Department looking to do something new.

He wanted to create a Model United Nations program that provided local high school students with a chance to understand international politics and issues. And while there are Model UN programs across the country, there wasn鈥檛 one located in central Maryland.

That鈥檚 when he met with TU political science professor Alison McCartney. The two formed a partnership that 20 years later has provided thousands of high school students an opportunity to not only understand international politics, but also get to experience what it鈥檚 like to be on a college campus.

鈥淚t's been so wonderful to see so many students come through the program and how they鈥檝e been affected by this, in terms of the direction of their lives and their careers,鈥� Kearney says. 鈥淲e have some alumni who now have careers in the justice department, the state department and others of international concern.鈥�

On Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5, the held its 20^th annual conference inside the newly renovated University Union Ballrooms.

During the first TU/BCPS Model UN Conference, the program featured just 74 students from six schools and met in a classroom in Smith Hall. Now the program hosts 243 students from over 20 high schools representing four different Maryland school districts.

Founded on equity and opportunity

Since its inception, the TU-BCPS Model UN has become a leading force in Maryland for college, career and civic readiness as well as for service-learning opportunities.

It鈥檚 also one of the only Model UN Conferences where there is no cost for participants.

鈥淲e were founded fundamentally on a partnership with equity and opportunity,鈥� McCartney says. 鈥淓quity, where a student, no matter what school they're from could participate. And then opportunity, meaning a global opportunity and a college readiness and exposure opportunity.  

鈥淭his is about learning about other countries, other cultures and other parts of the world and negotiating and working with people from different cultures and countries from around the world. But the college career and readiness are a really important part because we really wanted to expose kids who had never been to a college campus.鈥�

Engaging with the world

The programming compliments Baltimore County Public School鈥檚 curriculum and provides Towson University and area high school students with a means to be active participants in the Greater Baltimore community and with international issues that impact Maryland.

The conference schedule included an investigation of world issues, development of platforms and positions, debates and presentations about each issue, and resolutions to be voted upon by the delegates, with students representing over 120 countries.

The conference took place during the beginning weeks of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, so human rights was one of the main themes of this year鈥檚 Model UN. During the opening statements of the conference on Friday, many of the 鈥渃ountries鈥� showed their allegiance to the people of the Ukraine.

鈥淚t gives me hope for our global future to see the growth of this program and that more and more students are interested in being global citizens,鈥� says Renee Baylin, BCPS facilitator for the Model UN Program. 鈥淚t also gives me hope that so many students from so many different backgrounds and experiences are willing to come together and try to solve problems that affect us as well as the rest of the world.鈥�

A learning experience for all

High school students also get a chance to interact with current Towson University students, who are part of McCartney鈥檚 civic engagement and international relations class. The Towson University students serve as facilitators, and help make sure the high school students are in constant communication with one another on the conference鈥檚 issues.

So along with learning about international initiatives, the program is able to bring students onto campus to show them around, and let them interact with current college students and faculty members.

Because of the program鈥檚 impressive reach and unique structure over the past 20 years, the TU/BCPS Model UN received special citations from both Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.

This isn鈥檛 the first time the program has been recognized. In 2018, Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic recognized the TU/BCPS Model UN and McCartney with the P20 Partnership award. It was also one of three initiatives recognized by Towson University during the 2018 BTU Partnership Awards.

鈥淪ome of these students are going to go to college because they saw themselves as college students here at TU, working with Towson students in a university sponsored program,鈥� Baylin says. 鈥淚t's another reason why this is such an award-winning program, because we're providing the support that kids need to be successful and feel supported.鈥�

鈥淢ost of the students participating in this program would not have the opportunity if it wasn鈥檛 for the development and commitment of both Towson University and Baltimore County.鈥�

With the success of the TU/BCPS Model UN, McCartney is starting work on a book about the program with Baylin, Kearney and others who have been involved with the project.

Through the book, McCartney is hoping to show how the TU/BCPS Model UN is a model of high-quality civic engagement, pedagogy and connection within the community.

鈥淎s a teacher and as a scholar, it has been a priceless opportunity to hone my craft and to engage with my students in an ever-evolving learning opportunity,鈥� McCartney says. 鈥淚t's like they say, when you have a baby and it's born and it's steals your heart in ways you couldn't have imagined. The same thing would be the case with the Model UN that we run here and my partnership with Baltimore County, because it's just gone on so many places that I just couldn't have imagined.鈥�