The Secretariat

Secretary-General
Robert Coon is a senior at Michigan State University studying Political Theory,
German and Secondary Education. Originally from Williamston, Michigan,
Robert has been attending MSUMUN since his freshman year of high school,
making MSUMUN XIV his eighth and final MSUMUN conference. Along with
participating as a delegate for four years, Robert has also been on the crisis staffs of the Soviet Politburo Crisis Committee and the Second Continental Congress Crisis Committee, for which he was the Crisis Director. Last year he served on the Secretariat of MSUMUN XIII as the USG of Community Outreach,
overseeing the fundraising efforts of the conference. Robert is looking forward
to serving as the Secretary-General of MSUMUN XIV and expects this conference to continue to be the educationally enriching experience it has always been for him. Robert will be graduating from Michigan State in May 2014, after which he plans to spend a year as a student-teacher with the goal of eventually becoming a high school social studies teacher.

Deputy Secretary-General
Erica Zentner is a senior at Michigan State University, double majoring in International Relations and Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy through James Madison College. Returning for her fourth and final year with MSUMUN, Erica has served as an assistant crisis director with the Italian Cabinet for Session XI, as a chair for the British Parliament for Session XII and as the Chief of Staff of Session XII. This year she is delighted to have the privilege to serve as the Deputy Secretary-General where she will be leading the logistics and organization of the conference. When she’s not working with MSUMUN, Erica keeps busy as an Assistant Recruitment Coordinator for James Madison College Admissions. When she’s not working, studying or doing MUN, Erica is usually planning her next international adventure over a good cup of coffee! Erica is excited to make her last year with MSUMUN the best session yet!

 

Chief of Staff

Kory Miller is a junior and a half majoring in both International Relations and Russian.  He comes from Pittstown, New Jersey and is serving his third year on MSUMUN. In the past, he has been an assistant crisis director on both the 9/11 Commission and the 1990s UNSC. As Chief of Staff, he is in charge of keeping staff happy and recruiting. He believes he resembles Robert Downey Junior  because of his striking intelligence and good looks. He spends most of his time traveling to exotic places like South Africa and loves to Sparty all night (and study of course).

 

 

Undersecretary-General of Committees

Sam Herzing is a senior majoring in marketing. This year will be Sam’s fourth and final MSUMUN, having served as the assistant chair of UNSC 1948, chair of UNSC 2035, and chair of the Specialized Commission on Genetic Ethics. As the USG Committees, Sam coordinates the planning and training for all of the exciting, dynamic, and innovative general assembly and specialized committees featured at MSUMUN XIV. Sam also competes with MSU’s competitive Model UN team, MSUIRO, and serves as the VP Finance of that organization. Aside from her MUN passions, Sam also works with Students Consulting for Non-Profit Organizations, and is overly fond of dinosaurs and Don Draper.

 

Undersecretary-General of Crisis

Peter Sattler is studying International Relations and Russian as a part of the MSU Class of 2014. He works as the USG Crisis, helping the MSUMUN Crisis Staff get ready to provide engaging and challenging crises. Peter also is heavily involved in MSUIRO, the competitive collegiate MUN team based in MSU. On a more personal note, Peter loves mountains and oceans. He gets very excited about singing and Jorge Luis Borges, and is eager to tell you why the Russian genitive case is the best Russian case.

 

 

Undersecretary-General of RCMUN
Mary Connolly is a junior at Lyman Briggs College, double majoring in nutritional science and global studies with a concentration in gender and global health. After doing MUN for two years in high school Mary decided to join MSUMUN’s staff her freshman year serving as assistant chair for the United Nations Environmental Program of MSUMUN XII. She is ecstatic to be serving as USG of RCMUN for the second time and looks forward to expanding the conference even more! In addition to MSUMUN Mary is also a part of International Relations Organization (MSU’s college level MUN team) and is the president of MSU Women in Science. When not doing MUN she enjoys catching up on old 90s sitcoms on Netflix and planning out her future international travels.

 

Undersecretary-General of Internal Affairs
Kevin VanLiew is a junior here studying Comparative Cultures and Politics and Social Relations and Policy. This will be his 3rd year of MSUMUN, In the past Kevin has been an assistant chair for The New York City council, as well as a member of secretariat. This will be Kevin’s second year as USG of internal Affairs. When Kevin isn’t doing a MSUMUN related activity (which is rare) he can be found spending time with his friends, or writing one of his many papers. Kevin hopes to work in South Africa, post-graduation with NGO’s. He looks forward to making session XIV the best MSUMUN yet!

 

Undersecretary-General of External Affairs
Neil DeSouza is a junior majoring in International Relations with a specialization in Political Economy.  Neil lives in West Bloomfield, MI and this will be his third year with MSUMUN. His first year Neil was an assistant crisis director in the Joint Crisis: American Revolution and this past year Neil was the Chair of the Iroquois Confederacy.  As USG of External Affairs, Neil serves as the main line of communication between schools and MSUMUN staff.  Outside of MSUMUN Neil likes pretending his life is a movie, all things Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, taking naps and playing music.

 

Undersecretary-General of Community Outreach

Gillian Cobb is a senior studying Professional Writing.  From Williamston Michigan, she participated in MSUMUN for two years in high school, most memorably, portraying Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. This is Gillian’s third year on staff, previously serving as USG of Technology as well as an Assistant Crisis Director. In her spare time she enjoys singing, writing, reading, and wandering through the great north woods.

 

 

Undersecretary-General of Technology and Operations

Andrew Ford is a sophomore studying Computer Engineering. For MSUMUN session XIII, Andrew had the responsibility of Assistant Chair for the UNESCO Committee. This year for session XIV Andrew will be the USG of Technology and Operations and has responsibilities of maintaining MSUMUN’s website and preparing equipment for the conference. Andrew is very thrilled and honored to be given such a project that contributes much to MSUMUN’s success. While not preparing for the MSUMUN conference, Andrew lives the life of an engineering student by studying, tinkering, and sleeping.