“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students,” said Mo Sumbundu, '13, a political science alumni about the Model EU program. “We got to discuss European policies with European students.” Sumbundu led a delegation representing France. “The experience led me to travel across Europe and learn more about the European Union and to make lasting friendships.” - Mo Sumbundu, Manhattan, NY (Assistant Director, Regional Empire State Development - WNY)
"After Drake, I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to get my Master's in Library and Information Sciences... My group was assigned to be Croatia, and I took the role of the Finance Minister. At the time, the Croatian Finance Minister was Zdravko Marić, and I remember practicing pronouncing his name over and over...The other finance ministers (EcoFin) were supposed to discuss a resolution about steel quality. I was very stubborn and kept saying that cheap steel would lead to poorly made buildings and other important structures, so we should make the standards higher than they were. I don't remember the outcome of the meeting, but I did win the award of Most Likely to Write a New Resolution because of this...I loved my time at SUNY MEU. It was great to see New York and hang out with people who were as into politics and simulations as I was." - Natalie Larimer, Rochester, NY (Librarian)
"I played Coreper (Finland) and we dealt with climate change policy, which was great because I was a Biology major. For those STEM majors out there, it's a great opportunity to learn about policy and also hone your debating skills with polisci/pre-law majors! Unforgettable experience!" - Carla Lanze, Long Island, NY (Stony Brook University, PhD student in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology) Update 10/2025 - Post-Doc at Brookhaven National Laboratory
"I acted as foreign minister for our Swedish delegation from JCC. It was the first time I had ever interacted with people from all around the world. So, I got to learn both a bit about how European countries interact in a broad political setting and through casual interactions with my international peers. I won the award 'Most Likely to Actually Be Swedish.' The experience led me to a study abroad internship where I worked in a legislative office for a Member of Parliament in London. After graduating from Oswego I got a job in Erie County government as an executive assistant. Now I work as a legislative aide in the Buffalo Common Council.- Derek Smith, SUNY Jamestown Community College '16, SUNY Oswego '18 (Senior Legislative Assistant, City of Buffalo Common Council, Fillmore District)
"It was an amazing experience to participate (on-campus and abroad) and I was happy to help organize. Made some lifelong European friends along the way and some professional skills to boot. It was an amazing opportunity and I can’t thank you enough for all of your support and dedication." - Zachary Schuster, SUNY Fredonia '06 (Assistant Director of Admissions, Falk College & Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management, Syracuse University)
"SUNY MEU is unlike other Model EU conferences I have done because it is totally led by students from agenda proposal to conclusion finalization. It is only as good as the students, and this forces us to work hard in order to make the experience fun. It truly feels like we are running the EU. As President of the Commission, I worked with the Council President, High Representative, and French Presidency to edit and organize the topics that other students submitted, and then we were responsible for chairing and representing each of the councils. The results (contradictory resolutions, shifting allegiances, compromises) were messy — but so is the EU." (SUNYMEU 2022)
Update from SUNYMEU 2023 - Patrick played European Council President, Charles Michel:
"Looking back at my time in college, the three days I spent at SUNY MEU in each of the past two years loom large. While faculty are there to advise, it’s up to the students to define the conference. What we talk about, how we talk about it, what results of those talks—all of that is up to us. It taught me that we really are future leaders. Faculty might have guided us up to the conference, but during it they left all decisions up to the student delegates. In addition to learning more about the European Union and formal rules of debate, I learned how to work with other ambitious students on problems and opportunities that face our generation." Patrick Healy, Canisus College, 2023 (Political Science/pre-law), Harvard Law School (2026)
Canisius University Delegation - SUNYMEU 2023 at the SUNY Global Center, NYC
A wonderful opportunity to meet fellow students, learn about how diplomacy works, and gain valuable knowledge in European Union Studies. Fantastic experience would recommend you attend this event. Even if you have little knowledge in European Union Studies, resources will be provided, and most people will be in the same spot as you. - Samuel Enriquez, John Jay College of Criminal Justice - CUNY, 2024 - (Public Administration), Update MPA student at CUNY Johy Jay College (1/2024)
SUNYMEU provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in a real-world, real-time simulation of what could occur in the actual European Union. I had the pleasure of participating in SUNYMEU 2023 as The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), which carried the responsibility of chairing the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). I also wrote two agenda items – one on EU-China relations (including the banning of Tik Tok) and the other on misinformation and Artificial Intelligence. I was honored that the SUNYMEU student leadership team selected both agenda items as topics for debate. Writing agenda items was at times very challenging for an undergraduate student because I needed to stay abreast of current events and information, but it's rewarding to see issues students select themselves be the focus of SUNYMEU debates. My experience as an Intelligence Analyst (my position in the USAF reserves) was helpful for writing the agenda backgrounds, but the secret to a good agenda item lies in digging deeply into what issues drive the European Union summits and using any tool at your disposal from scholarly articles to news postings and everything in between.
Chairing can be compared to being a flock shepherd in that you have to allow everyone time to get their points across and yet keep participants in line when the dialogue heats up. However, everyone was respectful in the meetings and offered their unique input on the issues at hand. At times, chairing a SUNYMEU meeting can seem overwhelming when you have many vocal participants in your meeting, but as the chair I learned you have power over the atmosphere of meetings and can provide direction to the debate. - Seth Rueger, SUNY Buffalo State University - 2023 (International Relations)
Having had the privilege to participate in SUNYMEU twice during my undergraduate career, I can say with confidence that this experience is incredibly valuable for students of all majors. It’s the kind of hands-on instruction that I think every student can benefit from. For my first SUNYMEU, I played the role of the Foreign Affairs minister of Romania, and I wouldn’t know where to begin to list all the ways that enabled me to develop my skills in public speaking, writing, negotiating, debating, and learning to compromise. For my second SUNYMEU, I participated as part of the General Secretariat, and that was a whole other ballpark. As a member of the General Secretariat, you’re not on the floor negotiating, but you do get the opportunity to learn time-management skills, organizational skills, and technical writing skills that I really don’t think you can get anywhere else. I think SUNYMEU presents students with a unique experience that helps set them up for success in any career field. - Cassandra Brown, 2023 SUNY Buffalo State University (International Relations)
Updated February 2, 2024
