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Skylar Ballin (President)

Skylar Ballin will enter her third year with ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ ’s Model United Nations as President. She is a recent graduate of the University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice as well as a B.A. in Political Science with a Pre-Law concentration. Prior to her time at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ, Skylar also earned her A.S. degree in Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude. Skylar is currently a graduate student earning her MSW while continuing her involvement with other organizations on campus such as Mock Trial’s Vice President, the Equestrian Club’s IHSA Co-Captain, as well as a sister of Sigma Delta Tau sorority. She started her career in MUN at the Washington D.C conference in the fall of 2024, where she won her first position paper award representing the United Kingdom. Following in the spring of 2025, at the New York conference, she won her first Best Delegate award representing Egypt. Skylar was one of the few students invited to travel to Japan and attend the Kyoto conference, where she represented Fiji. In the Fall of 2025, she represented Pakistan in the prestigious Security Council. Skylar will travel with ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s international team this November to attend the NMUN conference held in Barcelona, Spain.

Dylan Demarest (Vice President)

Dylan is serving his first year as ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s Model United Nations Vice President. He has recently changed to a dual bachelor’s degree of Education and Political Science. Dylan began his National Model United Nations journey at the conference in Washington D.C., fall ‘25, representing Pakistan in General Assembly 1. Since then, Dylan has represented Mexico in the UNHCR at NMUN New York ‘26. With 2 conferences under his belt, Dylan has been able to gain a grasp on the importance of team building, and communication, and will continue to devote energy into furthering ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s MUN program. Dylan hopes to continue learning more from NMUN on solving global issues and becoming a better delegate. He will also be participating in the International Model UN team traveling to Barcelona, Spain this November.

Nicholas Pietruszka (Historian)

Nicholas Pietruszka is a rising senior and has been involved with Model United Nations for one full school year. He is a Computer Science major with a multilateral approach to higher education and self-study. Over his time with ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Model UN, he proved adept at navigating complex political and social scenarios outside his major. At Nicholas’s first conference at NMUN DC ‘25, he represented Paraguay alone in General Assembly 3, finding the large size of the committee a unique challenge. At the following conference in New York, he represented Mexico in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Committee, allowing himself to go full-throttle into his passion for nuclear energy and disarmament. Nicholas is always excited to explore new perspectives and learn more about the global political ecosystem through NMUN.

James Kee (Public Relations)

James is going into his senior year and has been a part of Model United Nations for just as long. He is studying at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ in order to earn a degree in Historical Studies with a minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. James brings the knowledge he has accumulated throughout his university courses to active debates and through his speeches. He has primarily attended national conferences in Washington D.C. and  New York but near the end of November this fall he will be attending the International conference in Barcelona, Spain. With a multitude of nations from the U.K, India, Colombia, Mexico, and Egypt he has represented the majority in General Assembly 3. James is excited to take photos and interview the delegates for each conference as his role as the public relations officer next year.

Aaron Simpson (Treasurer)

Aaron is currently a junior, and joined Model United Nations after attending the international trip in Ecuador. He has since gone on to attend conferences in Washington D.C. and New York representing various countries. As an environmental science and biology major, he enjoys bringing science to conferences through debate, speeches, and working papers. He looks forward to pushing ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Model UN to its best self, and raising funds for club activities as the club’s treasurer. Aaron enjoys traveling, reading, and water sports.

Sean Whittles (Secretary)

Sean is entering his sophomore year and is serving his first year as the secretary of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s Model United Nations. He is studying at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ to earn a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Sean is able to bring such knowledge to debates and public speaking. He has used such skills at his first conference in New York ‘26 and is excited to put his skills to the test at future conferences. Sean is determined to use his passion for law and the Justice system to add more to Model UN in any way that he can, as well as make new friends and experiences along the way.

Dr. Tina Zappile (Dr. Z) (Faculty Advisor)

Dr. Tina Zappile, Director of the Hughes Public Policy Center and Associate Professor of Political Science, has led the campus-wide Model UN program at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ since its inception in 2012. She enjoys traveling with students in the U.S. and abroad, and watching them grow both personally and professionally. She also currently serves as President of the Board for , a 501(c)(3).