Meet the Directors

 

Oscar Berry

Director of Potsdam

My name is Oscar Berry, and I will be serving as your Director. I am currently a graduating senior at Harvard College, having concentrated in History with a secondary in Government. I wound up attending a local Model UN conference for my unofficial town team back in Middle School, and fell in love with the negotiations, debate, and conference format right away. Throughout high school, MUN was a practice that allowed me to challenge myself, explore complicated historical topics, and meet friends from around the world, reasons for which I still love it today.

In college, I have found a home in the many international relations programs on campus, particularly ICMUN, the traveling team, as well as the numerous national and international conferences that I have staffed in the past years. Notably, I had the distinguished honor of serving as Secretary General for HMUN India 2022 and the Director General for the inaugural edition of HNMUN Africa in Kenya in 2024. 

Hannah Shin

Director of Legal Committee

My name is Hannah Shin, and I am honored to be your director this upcoming summer. To start off, here’s a bit about me: I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I am a rising junior at Harvard College pursuing a double concentration in Economics and Social Anthropology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy.

In terms of Model UN engagement, I directed the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) for HNMUN Boston 2024, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for HNMUN Latin America 2024, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for HMUN Australia 2024. Outside of Model UN, I have previously served as Co-President of Harvard Undergraduate International Relations on Campus and as Co-Director of the Harvard Undergraduate Legal Committee. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, taking nature walks, reading, listening to music, and watching TV.

Nicholas Yang

Director of WHO

My name is Nicholas Yang and I am proud to be serving as your Director for the World Health Organization for HMUN China 2024! I am a rising junior in Quincy House studying Computer Science and Neuroscience hoping to explore the intersection of these two fields.

I previously served as the Under Secretary-General of Administration for HMUN Boston 2024 and directed the WHO for HNMUN Boston 2024. This year, I am proud to take on the role of Director-General for HMUN Boston 2025 as well as the Director for the WHO and Under Secretary-General of Administration at HMUN China as well! I have always taken an interest in learning more about the computational tools that we are surrounded by on a daily basis, especially artificial intelligence, along with the ethical and moral concerns surrounding the usage and implementation of artificial intelligence.

 

Juanes Esteban Gallo

Director of WTO

My name is Juan Esteban Gallo and I am a rising Junior at Harvard College studying Applied Mathematics to Economics and Comparative Literature. I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, where I got to discover the world of Model UN from the very early age of 12!

Ever since my first conference, where he represented Egypt in the IAEA commission, I fell in love with the world of debate, international cooperation, diplomacy, and resolution writing. I like to consider myself a true veteran of Model UN, as I have participated in over 30 conferences as a delegate, staffed at HNMUN Boston, HNMUN-LA, and HACIA Democracy, and have the honor of being part of the secretariat for HNMUN-LA 2025.

I serve as the social chair of the Harvard Organization for Latin America, the Colombian Student Association, and I am the financial vice president of the Colombian Student Society. I love playing squash, soccer, and tennis, and commonly find myself cooking and exploring new recipes.

 

Nicolette Reale

Director of UNEP

My name is Nicolette Reale, and I am a rising Junior at the college studying Government and Psychology. I have been a member of Harvard Model UN for a full year now. I have previously served as an Assistant Director for HMUN 2023’s CELAC and as the Director for IOM in the HMUN Boston 2024 Conference.

Outside of academics and MUN, I enjoy writing for publications on campus such as the Harvard International Review. I also enjoy finding new music artists to listen to, traveling, and meeting people from different backgrounds.

I am honored to be your Director for HMUN China 2024. I’m excited to see some engaging and thought provoking debate, and to hear the creative resolutions that you will create for such an important and pressing topic.

 

Jeremy Rasmussen

Director of IAEA

My name is Jeremy Rasmussen, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to Harvard Model United Nations China 2024! I look forward to getting to know you and hearing a plethora of interesting and informative arguments as we debate one of the most pressing issues in the world today.

I am a senior at Harvard College studying chemistry and physics with a secondary in government. I grew up in Vineland, New Jersey, and participated in Model Congress and debate club during my time in high school. What I like about these programs is that they are a unique opportunity for informing ourselves and truly hearing “both sides of the argument”: when discussing difficult topics with your intellectual peers, the goal is to have an informative experience rather than a combative one. That is the community I hope to foster during our time together in committee.

Outside of class, I perform stand-up comedy and serve as an author for Harvard’s Satire V magazine.

 

Felix Chen

Director of ITU

My name is Felix Chen, and I am excited to welcome you to HMUN China 2024! Thank you for choosing to be a part of the ITU committee. I look forward to an insightful and enlightening conference.

A little about me—I am a junior in Eliot House, originally from Austin, Texas, currently pursuing a joint concentration between Government and Computer Science. I have been involved in various aspects of Model UN as both a participant, director, and instructor. In my first year summer, I interned with the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, creating and teaching educational materials designed to introduce high school and middle school students to Model UN. In addition to Model UN, I am involved in Harvard’s Small Claims Advisory Service as the organization’s technology director, where we focus on providing legal information to Massachusetts residents.

 

Nicholas Hall

Director of CSTD

My name is Nicholas Hall, and I am a “rising sophomore” (about to start my second year) at Harvard College, and I’m studying Applied Mathematics and Economics. My parents are from the United States, but they are diplomats (much like you) and as a consequence I’ve grown up in several countries around the world, including Canada, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Indonesia.

When I was your age – many years ago – I had a great time participating in Model United Nations conferences myself. I knew I wanted to continue participating in MUN in college, and it’s through Harvard’s International Relations Council (the organization which oversees many international programs including HMUN China) that I’ve had the opportunity to staff Harvard’s yearly Boston conference. This will be my first international conference with Harvard, and I couldn’t be more excited.

 

Natalie Coon

Director of FCC

My name is Natalie Coon, and I am truly honored to be your Director for this conference. I look forward to hearing the engaging debate and thoughtful arguments you prepare as you consider some of the pressing issues facing modern and future society in the world. Whether you have much Model United Nations experience or this is your first conference, I am confident that this will be an unforgettable experience full of growth, learning, and personal development.

I was born and raised in a small town in Wisconsin. Now, I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College double concentrating in Government and Psychology. While not studying, I can be found participating in several extracurricular activities such as the Harvard Political Review, the International Review, Science Olympiad, and The Crimson to name a few. 

 

Ada Fong

Director of SOCHUM

I am a junior at Harvard College studying Economics and Government. I am a California native who spent some childhood years in Hong Kong. At Harvard, my time is divided between classes, academic research, and musical productions. Otherwise, you can find me on the search for the best cafe/study spot in Harvard Square.

I started my MUN journey as an Assistant Director of Administration for HNMUN 2023 and happily returned this year as a Director of Administration for HNMUN 2024. Additionally, I will be directing the United Nations Human Rights Council committee in HMUN Australia 2024. This coming August, I have the absolute privilege of serving as your Director for the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee at HMUN Australia 2024! 

 

Ali Saffarini

Director of UNSC

My name is Ali Saffarini and I am honored to be your Director for HMUN China 2024. I am excited to hear the rigorous and engaging debate that will be taking place in the committee, and hope that the coming conference is full of growth and learning for each delegate no matter the level of experience. I am so excited to see what you all bring to the table in August!

I am a rising sophomore at Harvard studying Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science. You might wonder, why would someone in STEM be interested in political conferences and debates. I have a diverse set of interests on campus, varying from politics to economics to finance to tech and entrepreneurship. I believe they are all intertwined under the bubble of change, and that’s what my goal is in life. I want to create things, be it systems, technologies, or policies to change the world for the better.

 

Arsema Aklog

Director of UN Women

My name is Arsema Aklog and I am a sophomore at Harvard College. I am pursuing a Sociology concentration with a secondary in Global Health & Health Policy. I have been involved in Model United Nations since the 6th grade, and have over eight years of experience as a delegate, chair, director, and Secretariat member!

Aside from MUN, I am very involved with the Harvard Eritrean and Ethiopian Student Association, where I serve as secretary, as well as the Harvard College Consulting Group, where I am an Analyst. I also serve as an Ambassador for the Harvard Global Health Institute. In my free time, I love to crochet, cook Ethiopian food, and go to the beach with my friends. I have long been passionate about the intersection of social justice, sustainability, and global health.

 

Rocio Jiminez

Director of CSTD

My name is Rocio Jimenez and it is my pleasure to serve as your director for the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development. I look forward to hearing the arguments each one of you brings to the table in our committee, and hope you see this conference as an opportunity for growth, learning, and collaboration.

I was born and raised in Tucuman, Argentina. I am currently a rising sophomore at Harvard College studying Economics and Government.  During high school in Argentina I discovered my passion for public speaking, international relations, and social sciences in general. That allowed me to start looking at things with a global viewpoint, researching current pressing issues, and learning from people with very different perspectives. It even motivated me to apply to universities in the U.S.A., hoping to be able to learn in a diverse and supportive environment.

At Harvard, I am mainly involved in different organizations within the International Relations Council, such as HMUN and HNMUN. This year I also have the privilege of being your director for  HMUN China 2024. Apart from that, I participate in the Campaigns and Advocacy Program by the Institute of Politics and dance in Harvard College Candela Latin Dance Troupe. In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to musical theater soundtracks, learning languages, and writing.