CNYMUN XLIII
January 9-10, 2026
Forging Unity in a Fragmented World
Noya Amjad
Secretary General
Meilissa Mclain
Secretary General
Griffin Pienkowski
Chef de Cabinet
Welcome to
CNYMUN 2026!
Dear Delegates and Advisors:
As your Secretaries General for the 43rd Annual Central New York Model United Nations, we are delighted to welcome you to CNYMUN 2026!
After 42 successful years, we are thrilled to be holding CNYMUN 2026 at Syracuse University once again. Our Executive Staff, Steering Committee, and advisors have worked diligently to deliver an unforgettable and transformative experience for all those who participate.
This year’s conference theme is Forging Unity in a Fragmented World. Delegates will traverse topics surrounding key issues contributing to global disunity and will work to proactively navigate the nuances of injustice, armed conflict, and human rights violations to help weave together our divided global community.
For those who are beginning their MUN journey, we have created numerous resources to aid new delegates and clubs. These can be found on our website which contains our position paper and debate structure guidelines, committee chair letters, updates, and everything you need to know regarding our conference.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us as we would be more than happy to answer them. We look forward to seeing you at CNYMUN 2026!
Sincerely,
Meilissa McLain & Noya Amjad
Secretaries General
This Year's Theme:
Forging Unity in a Fragmented World
This year's logo courtesy of Hari Yoganathan
Today, our collective humanity lies in disarray and disgrace. With each coming moment, we are faced with catastrophes and challenges that further divide our global community. In every corner of the globe, society tackles human rights violations, infringement of sovereignty, and the disregard for citizen life. Thus, we stand divided and broken. There is a critical need for diplomacy and stability in our global landscape, but we must recognize that peace stands within grasp if we strive to forge it. With courage, compromise, and compassion, we emphasize the need for action and perseverance in rebuilding unity through multilateralism. Collective action is required to silence violence and instead amplify diplomatic efforts by serving as peacebuilders. We encourage you to answer this call through the navigation of our presented committees with determination and recognition of shared purpose. Let your time at our conference serve as a testament that even in a fragmented world, we can come together to forge a cohesive future. Be the force to forge the world you want to live in. ​
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Noya Amjad & Meilissa McLain
Co-Secretaries General
Griffin Pienkowski
Chef de Cabinet
About our Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth Dunbar
Elizabeth Dunbar serves as Director and CEO of the Everson Museum of Art, which is located in Syracuse, NY. She leads the museum’s programs, exhibitions, fundraising, and overall operations. One of her first jobs was to help steady Everson's finances. She succeeded and oversaw an operating budget of about $2.3 million, up from about $1.6 million when she arrived. She has also overseen many renovations to the museum, which has made it an even better experience. Ms. Dunbar has a master’s degree in Museum Studies and Art History from City University of New York and a BA in Art History and French from Texas Tech University. Before coming to the Everson in 2014, she worked in leadership roles at other art institutions, including DiverseWorks in Houston, Arthouse, now known as Contemporary Austin, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Dunbar created a new Learning & Engagement department, launched paid internships, and established a $12m fund for acquiring works by historically marginalized artists. We are honored to welcome Ms. Dunbar to share her vision on how we can forge unity in a fragmented world, promote purpose-based leadership, and gain a better perspective of the world through art.
Get to Know Us
About This Year's Charities
The International Committee of Artists for Peace is dedicated to empowering humanity through Art. Through its initiatives, it aims to unite, inspire, and create a culture of peace by nurturing peacemakers through its educational programs across the world. ICAP sponsors youth empowerment, anti-bullying programs, and mentors young artists through counseling and workshops to create a network of members sharing their visions and plans for peace. Members perform from a wide variety of genres, and annually celebrate International Jazz Day, designated by UNESCO, which in previous years has been held in Abu Dhabi, Tokyo, Istanbul, Tangier, among many other cities. ICAP initiatives promote exchange, appreciation and bridge divides to help form stronger and harmonious communities. It awards organizations and individuals that contribute to making the arts a vehicle for change and sponsors peace and cultural exhibitions at schools, organizations, and conventions.
As one of CNYMUN 2026’s charities, we unite with ICAP to help propagate our conference theme and the ICApeace mission: promoting creativity as the driving force for connecting communities, inspiring change, and promoting understanding among diverse cultures.
The Everson Museum of Art, located in downtown Syracuse, provides a platform for artists to exhibit over 10,000 pieces of art from numerous diverse communities. Promoting inclusion and representation are key principles of the values upheld by the Everson, and the museum strives to create a place in which all are welcome. They offer many special events for family, adult, and youth activities to serve the greater community through art. CNYMUN is proud to support the museum's presence and impactful representation, embracing the promotion of expression and collectivity in our greater Syracuse community.
The Conference
CNYMUN is a two-day Harvard style Model United Nations conference with over 750 students in annual attendance. Our conference brings schools and their students together from all over Central New York. Over the course of two days, delegates solve global issues through substantive debate, collaboration, and determination. For the past 43 years, CNYMUN is one of the largest high school-run MUN conferences in the United States, organized by the Fayetteville-Manlius Model UN club. We are also one of the longest running high school-run Model UN Conferences. CNYMUN is an opportunity, regardless of prior experience, for high school students to develop invaluable debate and speaking skills while solving the world's most prevalent issues.
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“Today peace is under siege. Conflicts are multiplying and citizens are suffering. Human rights and international law are being trampled…leaving scenes that disgrace our common humanity. We know peace doesn't happen by accident. It is forged through courage, compromise and above all, action. Even in a fractured world, we can come together. We must act to silence guns and amplify diplomacy, protect civilians and uphold the UN charter, tackle the root causes of conflict: inequality, hate speech, climate chaos and instead invest in prevention, dialogue and trust.”
~ Antonio Guterres Secretary General of the United Nations,
statement in honor of Peace Day, September 2025