Fueled by intensive research and public speaking practice, approximately 60 JMU students are learning the arts of diplomacy, debate and compromise in five simulations modeled on the African Union, Arab League, European Union, United Nations and Moot Court.

While other universities have model simulations, “It is unusual that there be this many at JMU,” said Chris Blake, head and professor of political science, the academic department that helps sponsor most of the JMU teams.

Membership in the model teams is open to all JMU students on a competitive basis. “It’s not essential that a person be a major in political science, but it is essential that they have a sense of international relations and a sense of the substance involved of the simulation at issue,” Blake said.

Beyond being proven educational tools, simulations provide JMU students with the development of broader networks of people—other students, faculty and governmental representatives—that increase their vision of the world and offer a valuable group of colleagues.

International affairs majors Natasha D’Souza (’16) and Kara Burgess (’17), and Tre Allen (’17), a psychology major in JMU’s pre-law program, are just a few of the students benefiting from these realistic experiences in solving global problems.