For the first time, students from Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus will compete in the CSUSB Model United Nations (MUN) program — representing Morocco — at the 2025 NMUN-Canada Conference.

They’ll join the team from the university’s main campus, which will represent Mexico at the Nov. 23-29 conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada, marking a milestone in the university’s effort to expand global learning opportunities across both campuses.

Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations, where students take on the roles of diplomats to debate global issues, draft resolutions and collaborate across nations. The program helps participants develop skills in research, diplomacy, public speaking and international relations.

“This is an exciting new chapter for our Palm Desert Campus students,” said Kevin Grisham, professor of global studies and co-coordinator of the CSUSB Model UN program. “They’ll be developing critical leadership and communication skills while engaging with peers from universities around the world. Representing Morocco gives our Palm Desert Campus students an opportunity to bring new perspectives to global discussions, and we’re excited to learn, collaborate and showcase what our campus can contribute on the world stage.”

The Coachella Valley community has already been very supportive in the efforts to expand global learning opportunities at PDC, including a team meeting with Thomas Riley, the former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco from 2003 to 2008, appointed by President George W. Bush. Riley shared experiences from his career to help students better understand the life of a diplomat and what diplomacy looks like in action, as well as discussing Morocco’s current position on various global issues, which is helpful to the students in their preparation.

Palm Desert Campus students shared their experiences with MUN:

“I joined the Model United Nations to learn more about politics and global issues. What started as a way to challenge myself turned into an opportunity to gain confidence and strengthen my public speaking, negotiation and critical thinking skills. I’m really grateful for the experience and everything it taught me about teamwork and global awareness.”
Shekinah Daffon, kinesiology

“My experience in Model UN this semester has been incredible. I’ve met amazing and passionate people within my community and different areas of California who have supported and taught me valuable skills. It opened my eyes to the world beyond my hometown, introducing me to diverse cultures, languages and influential global issues. It has been amazing to see my classmates and me become more confident and develop essential skills for our future careers.”
Zaira Lopez-Martinez, liberal studies

“I initially joined model UN out of curiosity and to work on my public speaking skills, not fully aware of what I was getting into. However, joining model UN has been the best thing I’ve done so far in my college career, I’ve met some great people and have learned so much valuable information. I can’t recommend this program enough and definitely plan on returning next semester.”
Ayden Perales, criminal justice

The CSUSB Model UN program has been active for the past 52 years and has earned national recognition for its excellence in academic diplomacy and experiential learning.

Both teams are currently preparing for the competition where they will engage with students from universities across the country and around the world.

Visit the CSUSB Model United Nations website for more information about the program.

About the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus: The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience in the Coachella Valley. With a focus on academic excellence and community engagement, the campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and the region.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Marketing and Communications at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the PDC website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.